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£535     How  Jesus 
let  Life  Questions 

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HARRISON  S.ELLIOTT 


Gil 


IN  MEMORIAL 
George  Davidson 

1325-1911 


HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 


LIFE  PROBLEM  BIBLE  STUDIES 

How  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 
Harrison  S.  Elliott 

JESUS  AND  His  CAUSE 
A.  Bruce  Curry,  Jr. 


HOW  JESUS  V 

MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 


HARRISON  S.  ELLIOTT 

Editorial  Secretary,  Association  Press 


ASSOCIATION     PRESS 

NEW    YORK:     347    MADISON    AVENUE 
1923 


COPYRIGHT,  1920,  BY 

THE  INTERNATIONAL  COMMITTEE  OF 

YOUNG  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATIONS 


Printed  in  the  United  States  of  America 


The  Scripture  text  is  taken  from  'The  New  Testament,  A  New 
Translation,"  by  James  Moffatt,  and  is  used  through  the  courtesj 
of  Geo.  H.  Doran  Company,  New  York. 


H5S 


FOREWORD 

The  title  of  this  book  exactly  explains  its  purpose  and  view- 
point. This  is  not  a  book  about  the  Bible,  but  is  intended  as  a 
guide,  through  personal  study  and  group  discussion,  to  a  direct 
study  of  the  New  Testament  record  to  find  "how  Jesus  met  life 
questions."  The  topic  or  problem  of  each  chapter  is  stated  in 
present-day  form.  The  individual  students  and  the  group  mem- 
bers are  challenged  to  consider  for  themselves  both  the  present- 
day  issue  and  the  issue  Jesus  faced,  to  see  how  Jesus  met  the 
problem.  Each  one  is  asked  to  reach  his  own  conclusion  as  to 
what  Jesus'  ideal  really  was,  and  to  apply  this  heroically  in  rela- 
tion to  the  present-day  problems  as  he  meets  them. 

It  is  hoped  that  those  who  use  the  book  will  read  and  study 
the  records  of  Jesus'  life  eagerly,  open-mindedly,  as  if  coming  to 
them  for  the  first  time.  Earnest  attempt  has  been  made  not  to 
bias  in  any  way  the  thinking  and  conclusions  of  those  who  use 
the  book.  There  is  no  particular  set  of  ideas  regarding  the  life 
and  teachings  of  Jesus  which  the  author  is  attempting  to  set 
forth.  The  purpose  is  to  get  others  to  form  ideas  of  their  own 
rather  than  to  adopt  those  which  may  appeal  to  him. 

Only  such  modern  questions  have  been  introduced  into  each 
chapter  as  seem  in  their  real  issue  and  problem  to  be  the  same  as 
Jesus  faced  and  upon  which  it  seems  fair  to  go  to  the  life  of  Jesus 
for  direct  help  as  to  his  viewpoint.  A  major  question  at  present 
is  whether  Jesus'  ideals  and  principles  will  really  work  in  the 
modern  world.  In  answering  this  question,  too  often  Jesus'  life 
and  teachings  are  warped  to  confirm  some  opinion  that  a  person, 
already  holds,  or  some  current  idea  of  that  for  which  Jesus 
stood  is  accepted.  An  earnest  attempt  has  been  made  here  to 
stimulate  open-minded  reading  of  the  records,  so  that  each  in- 
dividual or  group  may  come  to  his  own  viewpoint  as  to  Jesus' 
attitude  and  idea  on  the  problem  in  hand. 

Each  chapter  has  three  sections.  After  a  brief  introductory 
statement  of  the  problem  or  question  of  the  chapter,  the  Bible 
references  are  printed  out.  The  Moffatt  translation  is  used,  not 
as  a  substitute  for  the  use  of  one's  own  Testament,  but  for  com- 
parison and  to  bring  the  challenge  of  a  new  translation.  This 
is  followed  by  Suggestions  for  Personal  Study.  These  are  ques- 
tions upon  the  Scripture,  intended  to  lead  the  reader  to  dis- 
cover the  issue  or  situation  in  each  reference  and  to  find  the  big 
ideas  for  which  Jesus  stood.  These  Suggestions,  in  seven 
sections,  can  be  used  for  daily  study  in  the  Morning  Watch  or 
followed  in  a  study  of  the  chapter  at  a  single  sitting  if  preferred. 


vi  FOREWORD 

The  third  section,  Questions  for  Group  Discussion,  are  intended 
for  the  guidance  of  the  group  or  for  personal  use  as  a  summary. 
The  first  twenty-one  chapters  cover,  in  the  order  of  the 
Matthew-Mark-Luke  record,  the  major  events  in  Jesus'  life. 
The  order  given  in  Sharman,  "Records  of  the  Life  of  Jesus" 
and  "Jesus  in  the  Records,"  has  been  followed.  Eight  supple- 
mentary chapters  cover  other  problems  faced  by  Jesus  at  vari- 
ous times  in  his  life  and  on  which  we  seem  to  have  a  right  to 
go  to  his  life  for  help.  Each  chapter  has  also  one  central  prob- 
lem and  is  a  unit  in  itself.  Accordingly  the  book  can  be  used 
for  a  series  of  topical  or  problem  studies  (see  page  ix  for 
Topical  Index),  using  the  chapters  in  whatever  order  the  prob- 
lems and  needs  of  the  group  may  dictate,  or  as  a  systematic  study 
of  the  life  of  Jesus  from  the  problem  approach. 

To  the  Leader 

The  Questions  for  Group  Discussion  include  many  questions 
which  have  actually  been  used  in  discussion  groups.  They  are 
arranged  in  the  order  in  which  they  would  be  used  in  an  actual 
group,  though  there  are  more  questions  than  could  be  used  in 
any  one  discussion.  Each  set  will  be  found  to  contain:  First, 
questions  with  which  to  open  the  discussion.  These  are  usually 
concrete,  out  of  the  experience  of  the  group,  and  intended  to 
capture  interest  and  to  make  living  and  vital  the  major  problem 
for  discussion.  Second,  there  are  questions  on  the  biblical 
material,  intended  to  lead  the  group  members  to  examine  for 
themselves  each  incident  or  story  so  as  to  understand  the  situ- 
ation Jesus  faced  and  to  discover  how  he  met  it  and  what  he 
stood  for.  These  usually  close  with  a  summary  question  to 
gather  up  the  thinking  of  the  group  and  give  a  chance  for  the 
'  formulation  of  the  Big  Idea  for  which  Jesus  stood.  Third, 
there  are  questions  which  have  to  do  with  action.  These  chal- 
lenge the  application  of  Jesus'  ideal  to  various  present-day  prob- 
lems. These  are  intended  to  lead  to  a  consideration  of  the 
changes  in  life  today  which  the  adoption  of  Jesus'  ideal  would 
make  necessary,  whether  these  changes  are  practicable,  andv  how 
they  can  be  brought  about.  It  will  thus  be  seen  that  the  ques- 
tions are  arranged  in  the  order  of  rewarding  individual  or 
group  thinking,  namely,  (i)  Problem;  (2)  Solution;  (3)  Action. 

The  leader  will  not  follow  these  questions  mechanically.  He 
will  need  to  choose,  revise,  eliminate,  add  and  thus  make  a 
list  of  his  own,  covering,  however,  questions  for  each  of  the 
three  sections  suggested  above — namely,  questions  to  make  the 
PROBLEM  understood ;  questions  leading  to  a  search  for  Jesus' 
SOLUTION ;  questions  to  make  possible  ACTION,  the  applica- 
tion of  the  solution  of  the  problems  which  has  been  arrived  at. 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

FOREWORD v 

TOPICAL  INDEX ix 

Jesus'  Call  and  His  Decision  as  to  His  Life  Mission 

I.     WHAT  Do  THE  PEOPLE  OF  THE  WORLD  WANT? I 

A  Study  of  the  National  Hopes  in  Jesus'  Day. 

II.     WHAT  SHOULD  WE  CHOOSE? 6 

Jesus  Faces  His  Mission  for  His  Nation. 

Jesus'  Work  in  Galilee  and  Clash  with  the  Religious  Leaders 

III.  How  CAN  WE  HELP  THE  NEED  OF  THE  WORLD? 10 

Jesus  Helps  Relieve  His  People's  Distress. 

IV.  How  FAR  SHOULD  CUSTOM  DETERMINE  STANDARDS 

OF  CONDUCT? 14 

Jesus'     Attitude     toward     Commonly     Accepted 

Standards. 
V.    How  Is  THE   CHRISTIAN    STANDARD   OF    CONDUCT 

DIFFERENT? 19 

Jesus  Declares  His  Ethical  Standards. 

VI.    How  SHOULD  A  CHRISTIAN  GET  EVEN? 23 

Jesus  Establishes  a  New  Type  of  Revenge. 
VII.    WHAT  Is  WRONG  WITH  "BLUFFING"  AND  "KNOCK- 
ING"?      27 

Jesus'    Attacks    Sham    and    Tells    How   to   Test 
Religion. 

VIII.     WHAT  Is  JESUS'  CAUSE  IN  THE  WORLD? 35 

Jesus'  Points  of  Emphasis  Regarding  the  Kingdom. 

IX.     WHAT  MAKES  RELIGION  STAND  THE  TEST? 40 

Jesus  Shows  the  Essentials  in  Everyday  Religion. 

Jesus'  Visit,  as  a  Fugitive,  to  Tyre,  Sidon,  and  Decapolis 

X.     How  SHALL  WE  TREAT  OTHER  RACES  AND  NATIONAL- 
ITIES?      46 

Jesus,  a  Fugitive,  Breaks  with  Jewish  Narrowness. 

Issue  at  Caesarea  Philippi  Regarding  the  Cost  of  Messiahship 

XI.     How  MUCH  DOES  LOYALTY  COST? 53 

Jesus  Faces  His  Followers  with  Costly  Sacrifice. 

Incidents  on  the  Journey  to  Jerusalem 

XII.     WHAT  GOOD  DOES  IT  Do  TO  PRAY? 60 

Jesus  Answers  Inquiries  about  Prayer. 
vii 


viii  CONTENTS 

P>GE 

XIII.  WHAT  Is  OUR  RESPONSIBILITY  IN  THE  WORLD?.  ...     65 

Jesus  Extends  the  Obligations  of  His  Followers. 

XIV.  How  CAN  WE  FACE  LIFE  WITHOUT  WORRY? 70 

Jesus  Sets  Forth  the  Christian's  Confidence. 

XV.    WHAT  Is  A  MAN'S  OBJECT  IN  His  WORK? 75 

Jesus  Establishes  an  Impelling  Motive  for  Life. 

XVI.     WHAT  SHALL  WE  Do  ON  SUNDAY? 79 

Jesus  Justifies  His  Breaking  of  the  Sabbath  Law. 

XVII.     WHAT  DETERMINES  THE  VALUE  OF  A  MAN? 82 

Jesus  Shows  His  Estimate  of  People. 

XVIII.     WHAT  MAKES  A  PERSON  A  SUCCESS? 89 

Jesus  Shows  His  Basis  for  True  Leadership. 

Final  Clash  with  the  Religious  Leaders  in  Jerusalem 

XIX.    WHO  Is  A  HYPOCRITE? 93 

Jesus'  Indignation  Blazes  Forth  against  Graft  and 
Hypocrisy. 

The  Struggle  in  Gethsemane  and  Jesus'  Trial,  Crucifixion,  and 

Victory 
XX.    How  CAN  WE  MEET  TIMES  OF  SUPREME  TESTING? 

Jesus  Faces  Trial  and  Death. 

XXI.    CAN  WE  BELIEVE  THAT  LIFE  DOES  NOT  END?.  . , 
Jesus'  Followers  See  that  He  Is  Alive. 

Some  Additional  Issues  Faced  by  Jesus  at  Various  Times 

XXII.    How  Do  WE  ENLIST  IN  JESUS'  CAUSE? 1 14 

What  Jesus  Asked  of  His  Followers. 

XXIII.  WHAT  Is  THE  CHRISTIAN  IDEAL  OF  CHIVALRY? 119 

Jesus  Sets  a  High  Standard  for  Men  and  Women. 

XXIV.  How  Is  ONE'S  LIFE  WORK  DISCOVERED? 123 

Jesus  Shows  the  Christian's  Object  in  Life. 

XXV.     WHAT  Is  A  FAIR  CHANCE  FOR  ALL? 127 

Jesus  Shows  His  Concern  for  the  Weak  and  Op- 
pressed. 

XXVI.    'WHAT  Is  A  FAIR  INCOME? .131 

Jesus'  Attitude  on  Money  Perplexes  the  Privileged. 

XXVII.     Is  DEMOCRACY  POSSIBLE? 136 

Jesus  Shows  His  Confidence  in  the  Common  People. 
XXVIII.    WHAT  HOPE  Is  THERE  THAT  THE  WORLD  CAN  BE 

MADE -CHRISTIAN? .-/•••   T4° 

Jesus'  Emphasis  on  Changing  Wrong  Conditions. 

XXIX.     How  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 146 

INDEX  OF  SCRIPTURE  PASSAGES 148 


100 


1 08 


TOPICAL  INDEX 
Questions  of  Everyday  Conduct 

CHAP.  PAGE 

IV.  How  FAR  SHOULD  CUSTOM  DETERMINE  STANDARDS 

OF  CONDUCT? 14 

V.  How  Is  THE  CHRISTIAN  STANDARD  OF  CONDUCT 

DIFFERENT? 19 

VI.   How  SHOULD  A  CHRISTIAN  GET  EVEN? 23 

VII.  WHAT  Is  WRONG  WITH  "BLUFFING"  AND  "KNOCK- 
ING"?   27 

IX.   WHAT  MAKES  RELIGION  STAND  THE  TEST? 40 

XI.   How  MUCH  DOES  LOYALTY  COST?  — 53 

XIV.   How  CAN  WE  FACE  LIFE  WITHOUT  WORRY? 70 

XV.  WHAT  Is  A  MAN'S  OBJECT  IN  His  WORK? 75 

XVI.  WHAT  SHALL  WE  Do  ON  SUNDAY?  . : 79 

XVIII.  WHAT  MAKES  A  PERSON  A  SUCCESS? 89 

XIX.   WHO  Is  A  HYPOCRITE? 93 

XXIII.  WHAT  Is  THE  CHRISTIAN  IDEAL  OF  CHIVALRY?.  ...  119 

Life-Work  Questions 

II.   WHAT  SHOULD  WE  CHOOSE? 6 

VIII.   WHAT  Is  JESUS'  CAUSE  IN  THE  WORLD? 35 

XIII.  WHAT  Is  OUR  RESPONSIBILITY  TO  THE  WORLD?...  65 

XV.   WHAT  Is  A  MAN'S  OBJECT  IN  His  WORK? 75 

XVlil.   WHAT  MAKES  A  PERSON  A  SUCCESS? 89 

XXIV.  How  Is  ONE'S  LIFE  WORK  DISCOVERED? 123 

Social,  Economic,  and  World  Questions 

I.   WHAT  Do  THE  PEOPLE  OF  THE  WORLD  WANT?  ...  i 

II.   WHAT  SHOULD  WE  CHOOSE? 6 

III.   How  CAN  WE  HELP  THE  NEED  OF  THE  WORLD?.  . .  10 

VI.   How  SHOULD  A  CHRISTIAN  GET  EVEN? 23 

VIII.  WHAT  Is  JESUS'  CAUSE  IN  THE  WORLD? 35 

X.   How  SHALL  WE  TREAT  OTHER  RACES  AND  NA- 
TIONALITIES?    46 

ix 


x  TOPICAL  INDEX 

CHAP.  PAGE 

XIII.  WHAT  Is  OUR  RESPONSIBILITY  IN  THE  WORLD?.  . .  65 

XVII.  WHAT  DETERMINES  THE  VALUE  OF  A  MAN? 82 

XIX.  WHO  Is  A  HYPOCRITE? 93 

XXV.  WHAT  Is  A  FAIR  CHANCE  FOR  ALL? 127 

XXVI.  WHAT  Is  A  FAIR  INCOME? 131 

XXVII.  Is  DEMOCRACY  POSSIBLE? 136 

XXVIII.  WHAT  HOPE  Is  THERE  THAT  THE  WORLD  CAN  BE 

MADE  CHRISTIAN? 140 

Questions  of  Christian  Belief  and  Experience 

VIII.  WHAT  Is  JESUS'  CAUSE  IN  THE  WORLD? 35 

IX.  WHAT  MAKES  RELIGION  STAND  THE  TEST? 40 

XI.  How  MUCH  DOES  LOYALTY  COST? 53 

XII.  WHAT  GOOD  DOES  IT  Do  TO  PRAY? 60 

XIV.  How  CAN  WE  FACE  LIFE  WITHOUT  WORRY? 70 

XIX.  WHO  Is  A  HYPOCRITE? 93 

XX.  How  CAN  WE  MEET  TIMES  OF  SUPREME  TESTING?  100 

XXI.  CAN  WE  BELIEVE  THAT  LIFE  DOES  NOT  END?...  108 

XXII.  How  Do  WE  ENLIST  IN  JESUS'  CAUSE? 114 


CHAPTER  I 

What    Do  the   People  of  the  World 
Want? 

A  Study  of  the  National  Hopes  in  Jesus'  Day 

The  hopes  and  longings  of  the  world  show  forth  on  the  pages 
of  every  morning's  newspaper.  During  the  Great  War,  victory 
and  peace  were  the  great  desires.  When  the  War  was  over,  the 
nations  of  Europe  began  asking  for  enough  to  eat  and  wear, 
and  longing  for  a  return  of  prosperity.  What  do  the  peoples 
of  the  world  most  want  today? 

Jesus'  nation  had  great  national  hopes.  Though  a  subject  peo- 
ple for  six  centuries,  like  the  Poles,  the  Jews  never  lost  their 
national  consciousness  nor  their  deep  longing  to  be  free.  As  you 
read  these  records  of  the  beginning  of  Jesus'  life,  jot  down  the 
great  hopes  of  the  Jews  as  you  find  them  here  suggested. 

BIBLE   REFERENCES 
Luke  i :  46-55. 

46  Then  Mary  said : 

"My  soul  magnifies  the  Lord, 

47  My  spirit  has  joy  in  God  my  Saviour: 

48  for  he  has  considered  the  humiliation  of  his  servant. 
From  this  time  forth  all  generations  will  call  me  blessed, 

49  for  He  who  is  Mighty  has  done  great  things  for  me. 
His  name  is  holy, 

50  his  mercy  is  on  generation  after  generation, 
for  those  who  reverence  him. 

51  He  has  done  a  deed  of  might  with  his  arm, 
he  has  scattered  the  proud  with  their  purposes, 

52  princes  he  has  dethroned  and  the  poor  he  has  uplifted, 

53  he  has  satisfied  the  hungry  with  good  things  and  sent  the  i 

rich  away  empty. 

54  He  has  succoured  his  servant  Israel, 
mindful  of  his  mercy — 

55  os  he  promised  our  fathers, 

to  have  mercy  on  Abraham  and  his  offspring  for  ever." 


2  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

Luke  ?:   27-32 

27  When  the  parents  of  the  child  Jesus  carried  him  in  to  per- 
form    the     customary     regulations     of     the     law     for     him, 

28  then  Symeon  took  him  in  his  arms,  blessed  God,  and  said, 

29  "Now,  Master,  thou  canst  let  thy  servant  go, 

and  go  in  peace,  as  thou  didst  promise ; 

30  for  mine  eyes  have  seen  thy  saving  power 

31  which  thou  hast  prepared  before  the  face  of  all  the  peoples, 

32  to  be  a  light  of  revelation  for  the  Gentiles 

and  a  glory  to  thy  people  Israel." 

Luke  2:  41-52 

41  Every  year  his  parents  used  to   travel  to  Jerusalem  at  the 

42  passover   festival ;   and  when  he   was   twelve  years   old  they 

43  went  up   as  usual  to   the    festival.     After   spending  the   full 
number  of   days  they  came  back,  but  the  boy  Jesus   stayed 
behind    in   Jerusalem.     His   parents    did   not   know   of    this ; 

44  they  supposed  he  was   in  the   caravan   and  travelled  on   for 
a    day,    searching    for    him    among    their    kinsfolk    and    ac- 

45  quaintances.     Then,    as   they   failed   to   find   him,   they   came 

46  back  to  Jerusalem  in  search  of  him.     Three  days  later  they 
found  him  in  the  temple,  seated  among  the  teachers,  listen- 

47  ing  to  them  and  asking  them  questions,   till  all  his   hearers 

48  were  amazed  at  the  intelligence  of  his  own  answers.     When 
his  parents   saw  him  they  were   astounded,,  and   his   mother 
said  to  him,   "My  son,   why  have  you  behaved   like  this   to 
us?     Here   have   your    father   and   I   been    looking    for   you 

49  anxiously!"    "Why  did  you  look  for  me?"  he  said.     "Did  you 

50  not  know   I   had   to   be  at   my  Father's   house?"     But   they 

51  did    not    understand    what    he    said.      Then    he    went    down 
along    with    them    to    Nazaret,    and    did    as    they    told    him. 

52  His    mother    treasured    up    everything    in    her    heart.      And 
Jesus   increased   in    wisdom    and    in    stature,    and   in   favour 
with  God  and  man. 

Matt.  3:   i,  2. 

1  In  those  days  John  the  Baptist  came  on  the  scene,  preaching 

2  in  the  desert  of  Judaea,  "Repent,  the  Reign  of  heaven  is  near.'' 

Luke  3:  i -20. 

1  Now  in  the  fifteenth  year  of  the  reign  of  Tiberius  Caesar, 
when   Pontius  Pilate  was  governor  of  Judaea,  Herod  being 
tetrarch  of  Galilee,  Philip  his  brother  tetrarch  of  the  country 
of  Ituraea  and  Trachonitis,  and  Lysias  tetrarch  of  Abilene, 

2  during  the  high  priesthood  of  Annas  and  Caiaphas  the  word 
of  God  came  to  John  the   son  of  Zechariah  in   the   desert; 

3  and  he  went  into  all  the  Jordan-district  preaching  a  baptism 


WHAT  DO  PEOPLE  OF  WORLD  WANT?  3 

4  of  repentance  for  the  remission  of  sins — as  it  is  written  in 
the  book  of  the  sayings  of  the  prophet  Isaiah, 

The  voice  of  one  who  cries  in  the  desert, 
'Make  the  way  ready  for  the  Lordt 
level  the  paths  for  him. 

5  Every  valley  shall  be  filled  up, 

every  hill  and  mound  laid  low, 
the  crooked  made  straight, 
the  rough  roads  smooth; 

6  so  shall  all  flesh  see  the  saving  power  of  God.' 

7  To  the  crowds  who  came  out  to  get  baptized  by  him  John 
said,  "You  brood  of  vipers,  who  told  you  to  flee  from  the 

8  coming  Wrath?     Now,   produce   fruits  that  answer  to  your 
repentance,  instead  of  beginning  to   say  to  yourselves,   'We 
have  a  father  in  Abraham/     I  tell  you,   God  can   raise  up 

9  children  for  Abraham  from  these  stones !     The  axe  is  lying 
all  ready  at  the  root  of  the  trees ;  any  tree  that  is  not  pro- 
ducing good    fruit  will  be   cut   down   and   thrown   into   the 
fire." 

10  The  crowds  asked  him,  "Then  what  are  we  to  do?"    He 

11  replied,   "Let  everyone  who  possesses  two  shirts  share  with 
him    who   has   none,    and    let    him   who   has    food    do    like- 

12  wise."     Taxgatherers   also   came   to   get   baptized,    and   they 

13  said  to   him,    "Teacher,    what   are   we   to   do?"     He   said   to 

14  them,   "Never   exact  more   than  your   fixed   rate."     Soldiers 
also   asked   him,    "And   what   are   we   to  do?"     He   said   to 
them,   "Never  extort  money,   never  lay  a   false  charge,   but 
be  content  with  your  pay." 

15  Now  as  people's  expectations   were  roused  and  as   every- 
body thought  to  himself  about  John,  "Can  he  be  the  Christ," 

16  John  said  to  them  all, 

"I  baptize  you  with  water, 
but  after  me  one  who  is  mightier  will  come, 
and  I  am  not  fit  to  untie  the  string  of  his  sandals ; 
he  will  baptize  you  with  the  holy  Spirit  and  fire. 

17  His   winnowing-fan   is   in   his   hand  to   purge   his   thresh- 

ing floor. 

to  gather  the  wheat  into  his  granary 
and  burn  the  straw  with  fire  unquenchable." 

18  Thus   with   many   another   appeal   he    spoke   his   message   to 

19  the  people.     But  Herod  the  tetrarch,  who  had  been  reproved 
by  him   for  Herodias  his  brother's   wife   as   well  as   for  all 

20  the  wickedness  that  he,  Herod,  had  committed,  crowned  all 
by  shutting  John  up  in  prison. 

Mark  i:  9-11. 
Q      Now  it  was  in  those  days  that  Jesus  arrived  from  Nazaret 


4  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

10  in  Galilee  and  got  baptized  in  the  Jordan  by  John.     And  the 
moment  he  rose   from  the  water  he  saw  the  heavens   cleft 

11  and  the  Spirit  coming  down  upon  him  like  a  dove;  then  said 
a  voice  from  heaven, 

'Thou  art  my  Son,  the  Beloved, 
in  thee  is  my  delight/ 

SUGGESTIONS   FOR  PERSONAL  STUDY1 

1.  Luke  i:  46-55.     What  does  Mary  say  the  coming  of  Jesus 
will  accomplish?    What  is  our  ambition  for  our  nation? 

2.  Luke   2:    27-32.     From  this   statement   about   Jesus,   what 
would  you  think  the  people  were  expecting? 

3.  Luke  2:  41-52.     Notice  how  loyal  Joseph  and  Mary  were 
to  the  national  customs  of  the  Jews.     See  verse  41. 

4.  Matt.  3:    i,  2;   Luke  3:   1-6.     The  Jews  believed  that  a 
deliverer,  the  Messiah,  would  come  to  make  them  free  from  the 
Roman  power  and  set  up  the  "Kingdom  of  God,"  in  which  there 
would  be  prosperity  and  righteousness  and  peace.     When  read- 
ing this  passage,  remember  that  the  announcement  "The  King- 
dom of  God  is  here"  brought  the  same  thrill  of  hope  in  con- 
quered  Palestine  as  has  the  proclamation  in   subject  European 
lands :  "The  autocracy  is  overthrown,  a  democracy  is  at  hand." 

5.  Luke    3:    7-14.      "Repent!      Stop   your   graft;    act    square 
and  fair."    This  is  what  John  demanded.    Where  would  this  hit 
our  country  the  hardest? 

6.  Luke  3.  15-20.     The    people   here    ask:      "Is    John    really 
the  Christ?"    Why  did  they  think  he  might  be  the  Deliverer  for 
whom  they  were  looking? 

7.  Mark   i:   9-11.     If  you  had  been  the  carpenter  Jesus,   in 
the  little  village  of  Nazareth,  and  a  traveler  had  come  and  re- 
ported with  eager  voice :     "A  man  down  on  the  Jordan  says  that 
the  new  kingdom  we  have  been  looking  for  is  here ;  crowds  are 
flocking  to  his  standard,"  what  would  you  have  done? 

QUESTIONS  FOR  GROUP  DISCUSSION 

1.  What  are  the  big  ambitions  of  our  nation  today?    Whai  do 
our  leaders  seem  to  hope  she  will  become? 

2.  What  were  the  great  longings  of  the  peoples  of  the  world 
during  the  Great  War?    What  things  do  the  people  of  the  world 
most  want  today? 

3.  Which  nations  represent  the  greatest  tension  and   friction 


1  The  Suggestions  for  Personal  Study  are  divided  into  seven  sections,  89  that 
they  may  be  usable  as  a  guide  in  daily  Bible  reading  and  study,  as  well  as  in  the 
study  of  the  chapter  at  one  sitting. 


WHAT  DO  PEOPLE  OF  WORLD  WANT?  5 

points  in  the  world  today?    What  are  the  outstanding  causes  of 
this  tension? 

4.  What  were  the  causes  of  national  tension  and  unrest  among 
the  Jews?     Judging  from  this  week's  study    (Sections   i   to   7, 
Suggestions  for  Personal  Study),  what  would  you  say  the  Jews 
most  wanted  for  their  nation? 

5.  What  hopes  were  aroused  by  John's  ringing  appeal :     "Re- 
pent, the  Kingdom  of  God  is  here"?     Why  did  the  crowds  re- 
spond to  John's  challenge?    Why  did  Jesus  respond? 

6.  Compare  the  sources  of  tension  and  the  hopes  in  the  na-  i . , 
tions  today  with  those  in  Jesus'  day.  fcln  what  regards  are  they  (I! 
the  same ;  in  what  regards  are  they  different  ? 

7.  Now  that  the  War  is  over,  what  big  jobs  has  the  nation  left 
to   do?     In  their  demands   for  sacrifice  and  devotion,  how  do 
they  compare  with  the  calls  of  war  time? 

8.  What  demands  are  coming  upon  our  nation  for  help  in  world 
affairs?    How  much  and  what  responsibility  should  she  take  in 
response  to  these  calls? 


CHAPTER  II 

What  Should  We  Choose? 

Jesus  Faces  His  Mission  for  His  Nation 

A  call  from  the  nation  always  means  decision :  How  best  can 
.1  help?  So  Jesus,  after  deciding  to  leave  his  business  as  a 
carpenter  and  answer  his  nation's  call,  spent  forty  days  in  ear- 
nest thought  and  prayer  deciding  how  best  he  could  help  his 
people  and  the  world.  This  week's  readings  give  three  possible 
courses  of  action  suggested  to  Jesus  which  he  decided  not  to 
follow,  and  the  fourth,  which  he  chose.  If  we  can  sense  the 
genuine  struggles  of  Jesus'  decision,  perhaps  it  will  help  us 
in  deciding  when  we  come  as  individuals  or  a  nation  to  forks 
in  the  road. 

BIBLE  REFERENCES 
Matt.  4:  i -i i. 

1  Then  Jes^s   was  led  into   the   desert  by  the   Spirit  to  be 

2  tempted  by  the  devil.    He  fasted  forty  days  and  forty  nights 

3  and   afterwards   felt  hungry.     So  the  tempter  came  up  and 
said  to  him,  "If  you  are  God's  Son,  tell  these  stones  to  be- 

4.  come  loaves."     He  answered,  "It  is  written, 
Man  is  not  to  live  on  bread  alone, 

but  on  every  word  that  issues  from  the  mouth  of  God." 

5  Then  the  devil  conveyed  him  to  the  holy  city  and,  placing 

6  him  on  the  pinnacle  of  the  temple,  said  to  him,  "If  you  are 
God's  Son,  throw  yourself  down;  for  it  is  written, 

He  will  give  his  angels  charge  of  you; 

they  will  bear  you  on  their  hands, 

lest  you  strike  your  foot  against  a  stone" 

7  Jesus  said  to  him,  "It  is  written  again,   You  shall  not  tempt 

8  the   Lord  your  God"     Once  more   the   devil   conveyed   him 
to   an   exceedingly  high   mountain   and   showed   him   all  the 

9  realms   of   the   world   and   their   grandeur ;   he   said,    "I   will 
give   you   all  that  if   you   will   fall  down   and  worship  me," 

10  Then   Jesus   told   him,    "Begone,    Satan !    it   is    written,    You 
must  worship    the    Lord  your   God,   and   serve    him   alone." 

11  At  this   the   devil  left   him,   and  angels   came   up   and   min- 
istered to  him. 

6 


IV HAT  SPIOULD  WE  CHOOSE?  7 

Luke  4:  16-21. 

Then  he  came  to  Nazaret,  where  he  had  been  brought  up, 
and   on   the    sabbath   he   entered  the   synagogue   as   was   his 

17  custom.     He   stood  up   to   read  the  lesson   and   was  handed 
the  book  of  the  prophet  Isaiah ;  on  opening  the  book  he  came 
upon  the  place  where  it  was  written, 

18  The  Spirit  of  the  Lord  is  upon  me: 

for  he  has  consecrated  me  to  preach  the  gospel  to  the  poor, 
he  has  sent  me   to  proclaim  release  for  captives  and  re- 
covery of  sight  for  the  blind, 
to  set  free  the  oppressed, 

19  to  proclaim  the  Lord's  year  of  favour. 

20  Then,  folding  up  the  book,  he  handed  it  back  to  the  attend- 
ant and  sat  down.     The  eyes  of  all  in  the  synagogue  were 

21  fixed  on   him  and  he  proceeded  to  tell   them  that   "To-day, 
this  scripture  is  fulfilled  in  your  hearing." 

SUGGESTIONS   FOR   PERSONAL    STUDY 

1.  Matt.  4:  1-4.     In  reading  about  the  first  possible  course  of 
action  suggested  to  Jesus,  remember  that  the  people  of  Palestine 
were  bitterly  poor  and  needy  and  that  Jesus  himself  was  hun- 
gry because   of  his   long   fast.     Why  do  you  think  Jesus  here 
refused  to  satisfy  the  hunger  of  himself  and  his  people? 

2.  Read  again  Matt.  4:   1-4.     What  did  Jesus  mean  by  "Man 
shall  not  live  by  bread  alone"?    When  laborers  are  well  fed  and 
clothed,  why  do  they  still  strike  ?     Why  is  not  plenty  to  eat  and 
wear  enough  for  the  individual  or  the  nation? 

3.  Matt.  4:  5-7.     In  reading  the  account  of  the  second  possi- 
ble course  of  action  suggested  to  Jesus,  keep  in  mind  that  many 
of  the  people  expected  this  deliverer  to  come  miraculously.     In- 
deed, there  was  a  popular  belief  that  the  Messiah  would  appear 
on  the  pinnacle  of  the  temple  and  cast  himself  down  unharmed. 
Why  do  you  think  Jesus  refused  to  gather  a  following  by  playing 
to  favor  in  this  way? 

4.  Think  again  about  the  suggestion  which  came  to  Jesus  that 
he  gain  a  following  by  playing  to  popular  favor.     Matt.  4:  5-7. 
To  what  extent  can  an  individual  or  a  nation  afford  to  follow 
the  popular  road?    How  does  the  election  of  political  candidates 
today  depend  upon  their  playing  to  popular  favor? 

5.  Matt.  4:  8-1 1.     In  reading  about  the  third  possible  course 
of  action  suggested  to  Jesus,   remember  there  was  in  Palestine 
a  revolutionary  party,  known  as  the  Zealots,  who  believed  this 
deliverer  would  be  a  military  commander,  like  Judas,  the  Ham- 

( merer,  who  could  lead  them  in  throwing  off  the  hated  Roman 
'power.      In    your    opinion,    could   Jesus    have    led    a    successful 


8  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

military  revolution?  Why  do  you  think  Jesus  refused  to  lead  a 
revolution  to  free  his  people  from  the  galling  Roman  yoke? 
What  more  than  revolution  is  necessary  to  insure  a  "new  day" 
for  a  nation? 

6.  Think  again  about  Jesus*  refusal  to  head  up  a  military  revo- 
lution.    Why   do    revolutionists    against   tyranny    so    frequently 
practice  equal  tyranny  when  they  come  into  power?     How  can 
we   be   sure   that    our   nation    and   the   other   powers    will    use 
their    strength    for    the   good   of    the    world? 

7.  Luke   4:    16-21.     When   Jesus   told   his   own   townspeople 
in  the  village  synagogue  what  he  had  decided  to  do,  he  chose 
from  the  many  possible  prophecies  a  passage  of  the  exile  period, 
in   which   the   prophet   declares   to   the   exiles   in   Babylon   their 
approaching  deliverance.     Read  this  passage  carefully  in  its  his- 
torical setting,  and  state  in  present-day  language  just  what  you 
would  say  Jesus  decided  to  do. 

QUESTIONS  FOR  GROUP  DISCUSSION 

1.  What  would  you  say  arc  the  different  possible  courses  of 
action   men   are    asking   our   nation    today   to    follow    in    world 
affairs?     What  are  the  reasons  given  for  each? 

2.  Let  us  compare  the  three  possible  courses  of  action  sug- 
gested to  Jesus  as  ways  to  help  his  nation : 

a.  Matt.   4:    1-4    (Sections    i,   2).      The   people   of    Palestine 
were  poor  and  Jesus  was  hungry  from  his  long  fast.     Why  did 
Jesus  refuse  to  satisfy  the  hunger  of  himself  and  his  people? 
Why  is  not  plenty  to  eat  and  wear  enough  for  the  individual  and 
the  nation? 

b.  Matt.  4:  5-7  (Sections  3,  4).    What  in  the  popular  expecta- 
tion of  the  people  made  this  a  real  issue?    Why  did  Jesus  refuse 
to  gather  a  following  by  playing  to  popular  favor?     What  are 
the  dangers  of  a  movement  founded  on  popularity? 

c.  Matt.  4:  8-1 1    (Sections  5,  6).     How  strong  was  the  revo- 
lutionary party  in  Palestine?    Could  Jesus  have  led  a  successful 
military  revolution?     Why  do  you  think  he  refused  to   lead   a 
revolution  to  free  his  people  from  the  galling  Roman  yoke? 

3.  In   what  regards   do  you  think  the  choosing  of   either  of 
these  three  ways  would  have  been  disastrous  to  Jesus'  work  for 
his  nation?  ! 

4.  Compare  the   possibilities   suggested   to  Jesus   as   paths   of 
action   for  his  people  with  the  possibilities  that  politicians   are 
suggesting  for  our  nation  today.     On  the  basis  of  Jesus'  refusal, 
which  of  these  choices  suggested  to  our  nation  would  you  say. 
that  she  should  avoid? 


WHAT  SHOULD  WE  CHOOSE?  9 

5.  Compare  the  possibilities  suggested  to  Jesus  at  the  beginning 
of  his  public  work  with  those  before  each  young  person  as  he 
faces  his  life  and  life  work.    What  are  the  conflicting  points  of 
view  from  which  he  may  plan  his  life? 

6.  Just  what  did  Jesus  decide  regarding  his  mission  as  leader 
of  his  people?     Luke  4:   16-21    (Section  7).     How  far  do  you 
think  it  is  possible  for  a  nation 'or  an  individual  today  to  carry 
out  a  mission  of  this  sort  in  the  world?     How? 

7.  Designate  some  ways  in  which  individuals  may  follow  Jesus' 
ideal  in  their  life  and  life  work  today. 

8.  How  did  Jesus  go  about  it  to  make  his  decision?    How  can 
a  nation  or  an  individual  be  sure  the  right  choice  is  made  at  the 
forks  of  the  road? 


CHAPTER    III 

How    Can    We     Help    the    Need   of 
the  World? 

Jesus  Helps  Relieve  His  People's  Distress 

The  Great  War  destroyed  millions  of  property,  devastated 
towns,  left  millions  of  people  maimed  and  starving  and  in  des- 
perate need.  It  will  take  years  to  rehabilitate  the  world  from 
the  devastation  of  war.  Added  to  this  are  the  perennial  poverty 
and  disease  and  suffering,  particularly  among  that  two-thirds  of 
the  world's  population  found  in  so-called  non-Christian  lands. 

How  much  and  what  responsibility  should  a  Christian  and  a 
Christian  nation  feel  in  meeting  this  tragic  human  need  and 
suffering?  Let  us  see  what  Jesus'  attitude  was  toward  the  suf- 
fering and  need  of  his  day. 

BIBLE  REFERENCES 
Luke  4:   16-21. 

16  Then  he  came  to  Nazaret,  where  he  had  been  brought  up, 
and   on   the   sabbath   he   entered   the   synagogue   as   was   his 

17  custom.    He  stood  up  to  read  the  lesson  and  was  handed  the 
book  of  the  prophet  Isaiah ;   on  opening  the  book  he   came 
upon  the  place  where  it  was  written, 

18  The  Spirit  of  the  Lord  is  upon  me' 

for  he  has  consecrated  me  to  preach  the  gospel  to  the  poor, 
he  has  sent  me  to  proclaim  release  for  captives  and  re- 
covery of  sight  for  the  blind, 
to  set  free  the  oppressed, 

19  to  proclaim  the  Lord's  year  of  favour. 

20  Then,  folding  up  the  book,  he  handed  it  back  to  the  attendant 
and  sat  down.    The  eyes  of  all  in  the  synagogue  were  fixed 

21  on   him,   and   he   proceeded   to   tell   them   that   "To-day,   this 
scripture  is   fulfilled  in  your  hearing." 

Mark  i :  16-45. 

16  Now  as  he  passed  along  the  sea  of  Galilee  he  saw  Simon 
and    Simon's   brother   Andrew   netting   fish   in   the   sea — for 

17  they  were  fishermen;  so  Jesus  said  to  them,  "Come,  follow 

10 


HOW  HELP  THE  NEED  OF  WORLD?      n 

18  me    and    I    will    make    you    fish    for    men."      At    once    they 

19  dropped  their  nets  and  went  after  him.     Then  going  on   a 
little   further  he  saw  James   the   son  of   Zebedaeus   and   his 
brother  John ;   they  too   were   in   their   boat,    mending  their 

20  nets;    he    called    them   at    once,    and   they   left   their    father 
Zebedaeus   in   the   boat   with   the   crew   and   went   to    follow 
him. 

21  They   then   entered    Capharnahum.     As    soon    as   the    sab- 
bath   came,    he   at    once   began    to    teach    in   the    synagogue; 

22  and    they    were    astounded    at    his    teaching,    for    he    taught 

23  them    like    an    authority,    not    like    the    scribes.      Now    there 
was  a  man  with  an  unclean  spirit  in  their   synagogue,   who 

24  at    once    shrieked    out,    "Jesus    of    Nazaret,    what    business 
have   you   with   us?     Have   you    come   to   destroy   us?     We 

25  know   who  you   are,   you   are   God's   holy  One."     But  Jesus 

26  checked   it;   "Be  quiet,"  he   said,   "come   out  of   him."     And 
after    convulsing    him   the    unclean    spirit    did    come    out    of 

27  him  with  a  loud  cry.     Then  they  were  all   so  amazed  that 
they  discussed  it  together,  saying,  "Whatever  is  this?"     "It's 
new  teaching  with   authority  behind  it !"     "He   orders   even 

28  unclean  spirits!"     "Yes,  and  they  obey  him!"     So  his   fame 
at  once  spread  in  all  directions  through  the  whole  of  the  sur- 
rounding country  of  Galilee. 

28     ^On  leaving  the  synagogue  they  went  straight  to  the  house 
of    Simon    and    Andrew,    accompanied   by   James    and   John. 

30  Simon's  mother-in-law  was  in  bed  with   fever,   so  they  told 

31  him  at  once  about  her,  and  he  went  up  to  her  and  taking  her 
hand    made   her    rise;    the    fever    left    her   at   once   and    she 

32  ministered    to    them.      Now    when    evening   came,    when    the 
sun  set,  they  brought  him  all  who  were  ill  or  possessed  by 

33  daemons — indeed  the  whole  town  was  gathered  at  the  door 

34  — and   he   cured   many   who    were    ill   with   various    diseases 
and    cast    out    many    daemons ;    but    as    the    daemons    knew 

35  him    he    would    not    let    them    say    anything.      Then    in    the 
early   morning,    long   before    daylight,   he   got   up    and   went 

36  away   out   to    a   lonely   spot.     He    was   praying   there    when 

37  Simon   and  his   companions  hunted  him   out  and  discovered 
him ;  they  told  him,  "Everybody  is  looking  for  you,"  but  he 

38  said  to  them,   "Let  us  go   somewhere  else,  to   the  adjoining 
country-towns,  so  that  I  may  preach  there  as  well;  that  is  why 

39  I  came  out  here."  And  he  went  preaching  in  their  synagogues 
throughout  the  whole  of  Galilee,  casting  out  daemons. 

40  A  leper  came  to  him  beseeching  him  on  bended  knee,  say- 

41  ing,    "If    you    only    choose,    you    can    cleanse    me;"    so    he 
stretched    his    hand    out    in    pity    and    touched    him    saying, 

42  "I   do   choose,  be   cleansed."     And   the   leprosy   at   once  left 

43  him  and  he  was   cleansed.     Then  he   sent  him   off   at  once 


12  HOW.  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

44  with  the  stern  charge,  "See,  you  are  not  to  say  a  word  to 
anybody;   away  and   show  yourself   to   the   priest   and   offer 
what   Moses  prescribed   for  your  cleansing,   to  notify  men." 

45  But   he   went   off   and   proceeded   to   proclaim   it   aloud   and 
spread  news  of  the   affair  both   far  and  wide.     The  result 
was  that  Jesus  could  no  longer  enter  any  town  openly;  he 
stayed  outside  in  lonely  places,  and  people  came  to  him  from 
every  quarter. 

SUGGESTIONS  FOR  PERSONAL  STUDY 

1.  Luke  4:   16-22.     With    the   need    of    the   world    in    mind, 
read  again  Jesus'  announcement  of  what  he  intended  to  do.  What 
do  you  think  he  would  want  his  followers  to  do  toward  setting 
free   subject   races   in    Europe   and   Asia,   toward    rehabilitating 
devastated  areas,  toward  helping  feed  and  clothe  those  in  need? 

2.  Mark  i:   16-20.     What  opportunity  did  Jesus  offer  James 
and  John?     What  do  you  think  he  meant  by  "fishers  of  men"? 

3.  Mark    i:    21-34.     Read    rapidly   this    record    of    a    typical 
Sabbath  day,  noting  especially  the  principal  things  which  Jesus 
did.    Check  this  up  with  your  idea  of  a  "good"  Sunday. 

4.  Read  again  Mark  i:  21-34.     See  how  much  attention  Jesus 
gave  to  meeting  the  physical  needs  of  people.    What  place  should 
helping  people's   physical  needs   have   in   a   Christian   program? 
What  place  does  it  have? 

5.  Mark  i:  21-34.    Compare  this  day's  work  with  what  Jesus 
said  at  Nazareth  he  was  planning  to  do.     (See  Section  i.) 

6.  Mark    i:    35-39.     Why   were   the   crowds    seeking  Jesus? 
What  did  Jesus  do? 

7.  Mark   i :   40-45.     Jesus'  sympathy  reached  even  the  most 
loathsome  outcasts  and  lepers.     What  steps  are  being  taken  to- 
day to  reach  similar  groups? 

QUESTIONS  FOR  GROUP  DISCUSSION 

1.  In  what  sections  of  the  world  today  is  there  the  greatest 
suffering  and  economic  stress?     In  which  of  these  does  the  dis- 
tress actually  endanger  the  stability  of  the  country  and  the  peace 
of  the  world?    How? 

2.  Just  how  much  is  our  nation  to  blame  for  the  continuance 
of  these  conditions  in  the  world? 

3.  What  place  should  the  relief  of  distress  and  the  meeting  of 
physical  need  have  in  a  Christian  program? 

a.  What  examples  occur  in  the  incidents  in  this  chapter  Mark 
i :  16-45  (Sections  2-7)  of  Jesus'  relief  of  suffering  and  dis- 
tress? If  Mark's  record  of  a  day's  work  is  typical,  what  relative 


HOW  HELP  THE  NEED  OF  WORLD?  13 

place  would  you  say  Jesus  gave  in  his  work  to  such  physical  min- 
istration?   Why? 

b.  In  the  program  of  the  Church  in  America,  what  attention  is 
given  to  removing  distress  and  suffering? 

c.  In  the  missionary  work  of  the  Church  abroad  what  is  the 
relative    emphasis    placed    on    meeting    physical    needs    through 
medical  and  other  similar  activities?    Why? 

d.  List  the  evidences  and  agencies  of  philanthropy  beyond  the 
direct  influence  of  the  Christian  religion;  list  the  same  where  the 
Christian  influence  has  been  felt.    How  has  Christianity  affected 
the  need  of  the  world? 

4.  What  nations  have  need  of  our  help  at  this  time?    How  does 
our  responsibility  compare  with  that  of  other  countries  in  this 
matter?    What  part  do  you  feel  we  should  take  in  relieving  the 
distress  and  suffering  of  the  world? 

5.  What  are  the  next  steps  in  eliminating  preventable  disease, 
industrial  accidents,    exploitation   of   women   and   children,    and 
poverty?    What  responsibility  should  the  churches  assume? 

6.  Some  people  feel  that  the  Church  will  best  help  on  the  cause 
of  human  need  by  holding  to  its  task  of  winning  individuals  to 
Christianity;    others    feel  that   it   must  take   a  positive  part   in 
movements    for    social   betterment,    and    even    in    economic   and 
political  movements  for  social  reconstruction,  at  the  risk  of  mis- 
understanding and  difficulty.    What  answer  would  represent  the 
spirit  of  Jesus? 


CHAPTER  IV 

How  Far  Should  Custom   Determine 
Standards  of  Conduct? 

Jesus'  Attitude  toward  Commonly  Accepted  Standards 

In  Jesus'  day  to  be  religious  a  man  must  observe  many  minute 
rules  of  conduct,  covering  every  detail  of  life.  In  modern  life 
many  of  our  standards  of  right  and  wrong  are  the  result  of 
custom. 

Jesus  soon  came  into  clash  with  the  religious  leaders  of  his  day, 
the  Scribes  and  Pharisees,  because  he  refused  to  follow  many  of 
these  religious  customs  and  rules.  "When  reading  the  incidents, 
let  us  see  why  he  did  this  and  what  ideal  he  followed.  It  may 
help  us  in  deciding  what  is  right  or  wrong  in  conduct. 

BIBLE  REFERENCES 
Mark  2:  1-28. 

i       When    he    entered    Capharnahum    again    after    some    days 
2,  it   was    reported    that   he   was    at   home,    and   a   large    num- 
ber   at    once   gathered,    till    there    was    no    more    room    for 
them,  not  even  at  the  door.      He  was  speaking  the  word  to 

3  them,    when    a    paralytic    was    brought    to    him ;    four    men 

4  carried    him,    and    as    they    could    not    get    near    Jesus    on 
account   of   the   crowd   they  tore   up   the   roof   under   which 
he   stood   and   through   the   opening  they  lowered   the   pallet 

5  on   which   the   paralytic   lay.     When   Jesus    saw   their    faith, 
he    said    to    the    paralytic,    "My    son,    your    sins    are    for- 

6  given."      Now    there    were    some    scribes    sitting    there    who 

7  argued  in  their  hearts,   "What  does  the  man  mean  by  talk- 
ing   like    this?      It   is    blasphemy!      Who    can    forgive    sins, 

8  who   but    God   alone?"     Conscious   at   once   that    they   were 
arguing  to  themselves  in  this  way,  Jesus  asked  them,  "Why 

9  do   you    argue    thus    in   your   hearts?     Which    is    the    easier 
thing,   to  tell  the  paralytic,    'Your   sins   are   forgiven/   or  to 

10  tell  him,   'Rise,  lift  your  pallet,   and  go   away'?     But  to  let 
you   see   the    Son    of    man    has   power   on    earth   to    forgive 

11  sins" — he   said  to  the   paralytic,   "Rise,    I   tell  you,   lift  your 

12  pallet,    and    go    home."     And    he    rose,    lifted    his    pallet    at 
once,  and   went  off  before  them  all;   at  this  they  were   all 

14 


CUSTOM  AND  STANDARDS  OF  CONDUCT          15 

amazed  and  glorified  God  saying,   "We  never   saw  the  like 
of  it!" 

13  Then  he  went  out  again  by  the  seaside,  and  all  the  crowd 

14  came  to  him  and  he  taught  them.     As  he  passed  along  he 
saw  Levi  the  son  of  Alphaeus   sitting  at  the  tax-office;'  he 
said   to  him,   "Follow  me,"  and  he  rose   and   followed  him. 

15  Now  Levi  was  at  table  in  his  own  house,  and  he  had  many 
taxgatherers    and    sinners    as    guests    along   with    Jesus    and 
his  disciples — for  there  were  many  of  them  among  his   fol- 

16  lowers.     So  when  some  scribes  of  the  Pharisees  saw  he  was 
eating  with   sinners   and  taxgatherers   they  said   to   his   dis- 
ciples,  "Why  does  he  eat  and  drink  with  taxgatherers   and 

17  sinners?"     On  hearing  this,  Jesus   said  to  them, 

"Those  who  are  strong  have  no  need  of  a  doctor,  but  those 

who  are  ill : 
I  have  not  come  to  call  just  men  but  sinners." 

18  As   the  disciples  of  John  and   of  the   Pharisees  were  ob- 
serving a  fast,  people  came  and  asked  him,  "Why  do  John's 
disciples   and  the   disciples   of   the   Pharisees   fast,   and  your 

19  disciples  do  not  fast?"    Jesus  said  to  them, 

"Can   friends   at  a  wedding   fast   while   the   bridegroom   is 

beside  them? 

As   long   as   they  have  the  bridegroom  beside   them   they 
cannot  fast. 

20  A   time   will   come   when   the   bridegroom   is   taken    from 

them;  then  they  will  fast,  on  that  day. 

21  No    one   stitches    a   piece    of    undressed   cloth   on    an    old 

coat, 
otherwise   the   patch   breaks   away,   the   new    from   the 

old, 
and  the  tear  is  made  worse : 

22  no  one  pours  fresh  wine  into  old  wineskins, 

otherwise  the  wine  will  burst  the  wineskins, 
and  both  wine  and  wineskins  are  ruined." 

23  Now  it  happened  that  he  was  passing  through  the  corn- 
fields  on  the   sabbath,   and  as  the   disciples   made  their  way 

24  through  they  began  to  pull  the  ears  of  corn.     The  Pharisees 
said  to  him,  "Look  at  what  they  are  doing  on  the  sabbath ! 

25  That  is  not  allowed."     He   said  to  them,   "Have  you  never 
read    what   David    did   when    he   was    in   need    and   hungry, 

26  he  and  his  men?     He  went  into  the  house  of  God  (Abiathar 
was   high  priest  then)    and   ate   the   loaves  of  the  Presence 
which  no  one  except  the  priests  is  allowed  to  eat,  and  also 

27  shared  them  with  his  followers."    And  he  said  to  them, 

"The   sabbath   was   made   for   man,   not   man    for   the   sab- 
bath: 

28  so  that  the  Son  of  man  is  Lord  even  over  the  sabbath." 


16  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

Mark  3:  1-12. 

1  Again   he   entered   a    synagogue.     Now   a   man   was   there 

2  whose   hand   was   withered,   and   they  watched   to   see   if   he 
would  heal  him  on  the  sabbath,  so  as  to  get  a  charge  against 

3  him.     He   said   to   the   man   with   the   withered   hand,    "Rise 

4  and    come    forward ;"   then   he   asked   them,    ''Is    it   right   to 
help   or   to   hurt   on    the    sabbath,    to    save   life   or   to   kill?" 

5  They  were  silent.     Then  glancing   round  him   in   anger  and 
vexation   at   their   obstinacy   he   told   the   man,    "Stretch    out 
your   hand."     He   stretched   it  out   and  his   hand   was   quite 

6  restored.    On  this  the  Pharisees  withdrew  and  at  once  joined 
the  Herodians  in  a  plot  against  him,  to  destroy  him. 

7  Jesus    retired   with   his    disciples   to   the   sea,    and    a   large 
number  of  people   from  Galilee   followed  him ;   also  a  large 

8  number  came  to  him  from  Judaea,  Jerusalem,   Idumaea,  the 
other   side   of   the  Jordan,   and   the   neighbourhood   of   Tyre 

9  and  Sidon,  as  they  had  heard  of  his  doings.     So  he  told  his 
disciples    to    have    a    small    boat    ready;    it    was    to    prevent 

10  him   being   crushed   by   the   crowd,    for   he   healed    so    many 
that  all   who   had   complaints   were   pressing  on   him   to   get 

11  a    touch    of    him.      And    whenever    the    unclean    spirits    saw 
him   they   fell    down   before   him,    screaming,    "You    are    the 

12  Son   of   God !"     But  he   charged   them   strictly  and   severely 
not  to  make  him  known. 

SUGGESTIONS  FOR  PERSONAL  STUDY 

1.  Mark  2:  1-12.     In  Jesus'  day  all  sickness  and  disease  were 
considered  a  punishment  for  sin,  and  so  a  man  afflicted  as  this 
man  was,  thought  the  cause  was  the  fact  that  he  was  a  sinner. 
Why    did    Jesus    put    the    man's    need    above    the    rules    about 
blasphemy? 

2.  Mark  2:   13-17.     In    India    today    a   person    of    a    higher 
caste  must  not  eat  or  associate  with  one  of  a  lower  caste.     The 
Jews  in  Jesus'  day  were  equally  strict  in  their  rules  about  so- 
called  outcast  people,  particularly  on  the  matter  of  eating.     Why 
did  Jesus  associate  with  this  outcast  man  when  it  was  contrary 
to  the   religious  practice  of  the   "best  people"   of   his   day?     In 
what  ways  do  Christians  today  show  "caste"  distinctions  in  their 
treatment  of  the  Negro,  the  foreigner,  and  those  with  less  money 
and  social  standing?     What  principle  determined  Jesus'  action? 

3.  Mark  2:   18-22.     Why  did  Jesus  say  his  disciples  failed  to 
follow    the    custom  'about    fasting?      Why    has    it    often    been 
thought  necessary  to  be  sad  in  order  to  be  religious?    What  ef- 
fect did  Jesus  feel  religion  should  have  on  a  man? 

4.  Mark  2:  23-28.     The   rules  about  the   Sabbath  were  par- 
ticularly strict.     To  pluck  wheat  and  rub  it  between  the  hands 


CUSTOM  AND  STANDARDS  OF  CONDUCT          17 

was  called  reaping  and  threshing,  and  therefore  gross  Sabbath 
breaking.  To  heal  was  also  prohibited.  What  defense  did  Jesus 
make  of  his  disciples  for  breaking  the  Sabbath  laws? 

5.  Mark  3:   1-12.     What  defense  does  Jesus  make  of  his  ac- 
tion?   What  did  Jesus  think  it  was  right  to  do  on  the  Sabbath? 
Judging  by  these  two  incidents  (Mark  2:  23 — 3:  6)  what  stand- 
ard  determined  Jesus*   action?     Would   this    standard   apply  in 
determining  what  is  right  and  wrong  in  conduct? 

6.  Remember  it  was  a  serious  matter  to  break  the  religious 
laws.    It  was  one  of  the  direct  causes  of  Jesus'  death.     (See  Mark 
3:  6.)     Glance  rapidly  over  this  week's  readings  to  see  why  you 
think  Jesus  broke  these  religious  customs  of  the  "best  people" 
of  his   day.     Do  you  find  any  standard  or  ideal  by  which  he 
acted?     If  so,  what? 

7.  Glance  again  over  the  week's  readings.    Under  what  circum- 
stances do  you  think  Jesus  would  feel  a  man  need  not  be  bound 
by  what   is   ordinarily  considered   right   or   wrong  in   conduct? 
What  customs,  if  any,  would  be  changed  today  if  we  followed 
Jesus'  ideal?    Think  about  Sunday  observance,  amusements,  race 
relations,  personal  habits.    How  may  a  Christian  determine  what 
to  do  and  whaf  not  to  do? 

QUESTIONS  FOR  GROUP  DISCUSSION 

1.  Which  of  a  person's  standards  of  what  is  right  and  wrong 
(for  instance  on  amusements,  smoking,  Sabbath  observance,  im- 
purity, race  relations,  and  social  customs)   are  due  to  the  influ- 
ence of  custom  and  public  opinion ;   which  to  his  loyalty  to  a 
personal  standard  he  can  defend? 

2.  How  far  are  persons  you  know  willing  to  go  against  public 
opinion  in   regard  to  what  is  right  or  wrong?     Why?     When 
should  a  man  follow  the  customary  standard ;  when  should  he 
refuse  to  be  bound  by  it? 

3.  In  Jesus'  day,  to  be  religious  a  man  must  observe  minute 
rules  of  conduct.     Let  us  examine  the  incidents  recorded  where 
Jesus  refused  to  be  bound  by  the  customary  religious  standards 
of  his  day,  and  see  when  and  why  he  broke  these  customs,  and 
on  what  standards  he  acted. 

a.  From    these   incidents,    Mark   2:    I — 3:    12    (Sections    1-7), 
what   would  you   say  was   the  customary  religious   standard   in 
Jesus'  day  in  each  case? 

b.  What  did  Jesus  give  as  his  defense  in   each  incident   for 
refusing  to  be  bound  by  the  customary  standard? 

c.  From  these  incidents,  how  would  you  say  the  Scribes  and 
Pharisees  determined  what  was  right  and  wrong?     What  was 


i8  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

Jesus1  standard  here  for  deciding  the  right  action?  What  was 
the  essential  difference  between  the  Scribes  and  Pharisees  and 
Jesus  in  their  moral  and  religious  standards? 

4.  What,  if  any,  customary  standards  of  right  and  wrong  of 
our    day  x  would    necessarily   be    broken    if    we    followed    Jesus* 
example?     How  are  these  customs  hindering  the  establishment 
of  Jesus'  Kingdom  in  the  world? 

5.  How  much  dependence  should  a  Christian  place  upon  the 
moral  and  religious  standards  of  those  about  him  in  determining 
what  is  right  and  wrong  in  conduct?    When,  if  at  all,  should  he 
break  with  current  customs  and  go  against  public  opinion? 

6.  If  a  person  were  to  try  to   follow  Jesus*  ideal  as  seen  in 
these   incidents,   what   would  you   say  were   some   principles   or 
standards  by  which  he  would  test  right  or  wrong  in  conduct? 

7.  How  may  a  Christian  determine  what  to  do  and  what  not  to 
do? 


CHAPTER  V 

How  Is  the  Christian  Standard  of 
Conduct  Different? 

Jesus  Declares  His  Ethical  Standards 

One  of  the  criticisms  sometimes  flung  at  a  Christian  is  the 
fact  that  he  is  no  better  in  his  conduct  than  the  men  who  are 
not  professing  Christians  in  his  town.  The  same  criticism  is 
frequently  leveled  at  so-called  Christian  nations.  The  Scribes 
and  Pharisees  went  even  further  in  their  criticisms  of  Jesus. 
They  called  him  a  blasphemer  and  lawbreaker.  In  what  we 
commonly  call  "The  Sermon  on  the  Mount"  he  set  forth,  using 
several  specific  examples,  what  he  stood  for  in  moral  and 
religious  standards. 

BIBLE  REFERENCES 
Matt.  5:  1-32. 

1  So  when  he  saw  the  crowds,  he  went  up  the  hill  and  sat 

2  down ;  his  disciples  came  up  to  him  and  he  opened  his  lips 
and  began  to  teach  them.     He  said : 

3  "Blessed  are  those  who  feel  poor  in  spirit! 

the  Realm  of  heaven  is  theirs. 

4  Blessed  are  the  mourners ! 

they  will  be  consoled. 

5  Blessed  are  the  humble! 

they  will  inherit  the  earth. 

6  Blessed  are  those  who  hunger  and  thirst  for  goodness! 

they  will  be  satisfied. 

7  Blessed  are  the  merciful! 

they  will  find  mercy. 

8  Blessed  are  the  pure  in  heart! 

they  will  see  God. 

9  Blessed  are  the  peacemakers ! 

they  will  be  ranked  sons  of  God. 
10      Blessed  are  those  who  have  been  persecuted  for  the  sake 

of  goodness ! 
the  Realm  of  heaven  is  theirs. 

19 


20  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

11  Blessed   are  you   when   men   denounce  you   and   persecute 
you  and  utter  all  manner  of  evil  against  you  for  my  sake ; 

12  rejoice  and  exult  in  it,   for  your  reward  is  rich  in  heaven; 
that  is  how  they  persecuted  the  prophets  before  you. 

13  You  are  the   salt  of  the   earth.     But  if   salt  becomes  in- 
sipid, what  can  make  it  salt  again?     After  that  it  is  fit  for 
nothing,   fit  only  to  be  thrown  outside  and  trodden  by  the 
feet  of  men. 

14  You  are  the  light  of  the  world.     A  town  on  the  top  of  a 

15  hill   cannot  be   hidden.     Nor   do   men   light   a   lamp   to   put 
it  under  a  bowl;  they  put  it  on  a  stand  and  it  shines   for 

16  all   in   the   house.      So   your   light   is    to    shine    before    men, 
that  they  may  see  the  good  you  do  and  glorify  your  Father 
in  heaven. 

17  Do  not  imagine  I  have  come  to  destroy  the  Law  or  the 

18  prophets;  I  have  not  come  to  destroy  but  to  fulfil.     (I  tell 
you  truly,  till  heaven  and  earth  pass  away  not  an  iota,  not 
a  comma,  will  pass   from  the  Law  until  it  is  all  in   force. 
Therefore 

19  whoever  relaxes  a  single  one  of  these  commands,  were  it 

even  one  of  the  least,  and  teaches  men  so, 
he  will  be  ranked  least  in  the  Realm  of  heaven; 
but  whoever  obeys  them  and  teaches  them, 

20  he  will  be  ranked  great  in  the  Realm  of  heaven.)     For 
I  tell  you,   unless  your  goodness  excels  that  of  the   scribes 
and  Pharisees,  you  will  never  get  into  the  Realm  of  heaven. 

21  You  have  heard  how  the  men  of  old  were  told,  'Murder 
not: 

whoever  murders  must  come  up  for  sentence, 

22  whoever  maligns  his  brother  must  come  before  the    San- 

hedrin, 

whoever  curses  his  brother  must  go  to  the  fire  of  Gehenna.' 
But  I  tell  you,  whoever  is  angry  with  his  brother   [without 

23  cause]  will  be  sentenced  by  God.     So  if  you  remember,  even 
when  offering  your  gift  at  the  altar,  that  your  brother  has 

24  any  grievance  against  you,  leave  your  gift  at  the  very  altar 
and  go  away;  first  be  reconciled  to  your  brother,  then  come 
back  and  offer  your  gift. 

25  Be   quick   and    make   terms   with   your   opponent,    so    long 
as  you  and  he  are  on  the  way  to   court,   in  case  he  hands 
you  over  to  the  judge,  and  the  judge  to  the  jailer,  and  you 

26  are  thrown  into  prison ;  truly  I  tell  you,  you  will  never  get 
out  till  you  pay  the  last  halfpenny  of  your  debt. 

27  You  have  heard  how  it  used  to  be   said,  Do  not  commit 

28  adultery.     But  I  tell  you,  any  one  who  even  looks  with  lust 
at   a   woman   has   committed    adultery   with   her    already   in 
his  heart. 


CHRISTIAN  STANDARD  OF  CONDUCT  21 

29  If  your  right  eye  is  a  hindrance  to  you, 

pluck   it   oilt   and   throw   it   away: 
better  for  you  to  lose  one  of  your  members 

than  to  have  all  your  body  thrown  into  Gehenna. 

30  And  if  your  right  hand  is  a  hindrance  to  you, 

cut  it  off  and  throw  it  away: 
better  for  you  to  lose  one  of  your  members 
than  to  have  all  your  body  thrown  into  Gehenna. 

31  It  used  to  be  said,   Whoever  divorces  his  wife  must  give 

32  her  a   divorce-certificate.     But    I   tell  you,    anyone   who    di- 
vorces his  wife  for  any  reason  except  unchastity  makes  her 
an  adulteress;  and  whoever  marries  a  divorced  woman  com- 
mits adultery. 

SUGGESTIONS  FOR  PERSONAL  STUDY 

1.  Matt.  5:  i-i2.    Several  groups  of  people  are  here  spoken  of 
as   "Blessed."     Contrast  this   with   the   common   idea   of   those 
who  shall  be  "Happy." 

2.  Matt.  5:  1-20.     Note    what    Jesus    says    in    reply    to    the 
Pharisees'   criticism  that  he  was   trying  to   do   away   with   law 
and  order.     What  did  Jesus  say  he  asked   for? 

3.  Matt.  5:  21-26.     This  is  the  first  of  five  examples  given 
by  Jesus,  which  he  says  show  the  difference  between  his  stand- 
ard of   what   is   right   and   wrong  in   conduct   and  that   of   the 
Pharisees.     From  this   incident,   what   would  you    say   was  the 
common  standard  in  Jesus'   day  regarding  murder?     How  did 
anger  compare  with  murder  in  Jesus'  standard?    Why? 

4.  Read  again  Matt.  5:  21-26.     Why  must  a  man  first  make 
up  with  his  brother,  if  attending  church  is  to  do  any  good? 

5.  Matt.  5:  27-32.     How    did    Jesus'    idea    of    purity    differ 
from  that  commonly  accepted?    What  do  you  think  about  Jesus' 
warning  against  impure  thoughts? 

6.  Reread  Matt.  5:  27-32.     How  urgent  does  Jesus  make  this 
matter  of  purity?    What  do  you  think  about  it? 

7.  Reread  rapidly  Matt.   5:    1-32.     Judging  from  these  inci- 
dents, in  what  one  regard  would  you  say  Jesus  asked  for  a  better 
standard   than   the  most   religious   people   of   his   day?     Would 
you,  or  would  you  not,  expect  a  similar  advance  to  be  necessary 
when  a  good  respectable  citizen  in  your  town  becomes  a  Chris- 
tian? 

QUESTIONS  FOR  GROUP  DISCUSSION 

1.  Do   the   people   expect   higher    standards    of    conduct   of   a 
Christian,  in  your  town,  than  of  the  ordinarily  good  and  respect- 
able citizen?    If  so,  in  what  regards?    If  not,  why  not? 

2.  Jesus  said  he  asked  for  better  conduct  among  his  followers 


22  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

than  that  of  the  most  religious  people  of  his  day.  He  then  gives 
five  examples  showing  how  his  followers  mtfst  be  better.  We 
have  read  two  of  these  examples  this  week. 

a.  Judging  from  these  incidents,  Matt.  5:  17-32  (Sections  2-7), 
what  would  you  say  was  the  Pharisees'  standard? 

b.  In  what  regard  did  Jesus  ask  for  a  higher  standard  than 
that  of  the  Pharisees?     What  do  you  think  of  Jesus'  emphasis 
here? 

3.  Jf   a   Christian   were  to   follow  Jesus'   standard   on   hatred 
and  purity,  how,  if  at  all,  would  he  be  different  from  the  or- 
dinarily good  citizen  in  your  town? 

4.  Why  did  Jesus  condemn  thinking  lust  or  murder?    When  a 
man  with  lust  or  murder  in  his  thought  refrains   from  wrong 
acts  what  is  the  reason? 

5.  Just  what  keeps  a  man  when  away  from  restraints,  or  in  a 
strange  community,  from  wrong  conduct? 

6.  Specifically   how   would  you   tell   a   man   that   becoming   a 
Christian  helps  a  person  in  his  moral  conduct? 

7.  How  can  a  man  whose  thoughts  and  motives  are  all  wrong, 
change  his  thought  life? 


CHAPTER  VI 

How  Should  a  Christian  Get  Even? 

Jesus  Establishes  a  New  Type  of  Revenge 

The  last  two  examples  given  by  Jesus  have  to  do  with  the  way 
a  man  should  treat  those  who  have  done  him  wrong,  or  who  are 
his  enemies.  It  is  often  said  that  Jesus'  ideal  on  these  points  is 
utterly  impracticable  and  cannot  be  worked  out  in  business  life, 
in  the  treatment  of  criminals,  or  in  relations  between  nations. 
Let  us  read  the  incidents  and  see  what  we  think  about  this. 

BIBLE  REFERENCES 
Matt.  5:  33-48. 

33  Once  again,  you  have  heard  how  the  men  of  old  were  told, 
'You  must  not  forswear  yourself  but  discharge  your  vows 

34  to  the  Lord.'    But  I  tell  you,  you  must  not  swear  any  oath, 

neither  by  heaven, 

for  it  is  the  throne  of  God, 

35  nor  by  earth, 

for  it  is  the  footstool  of  his  feet, 
nor  by  Jerusalem, 

for  it  is  the  city  of  the  great  King; 

36  nor  shall  you  swear  by  your  head, 

for  you  cannot  make  a  single  hair  white  or  black. 

37  Let  what  you  say  be  simply  'yes'  or  'no' ; 
Whatever  exceeds  that  springs  from  evil. 

38  You  have  heard  the  saying,  An  eye  for  an  eye  and  a  tooth 
for  a  tooth. 

39  But  I  tell  you,  you  are  not  to  resist  an  injury: 

whoever  strikes  you  on  the  right  cheek, 
turn  the  other  to  him  as  well; 

40  whoever  wants  to  sue  you  for  your  shirt, 

let  him  have  your  coat  as  well; 

41  Whoever  forces  you  to  go  one  mile, 

go  two  miles  with  him ; 

42  give  to  the  man  who  begs  from  you, 

and  turn  not  away  from  him  who  wants  to  borrow. 

43  You  have  heard  the  saying,  'You  must  love  your  neigh- 

44  bour  and  hate  your  enemy.'     But  I  tell  you,  love  your  ene- 

23 


j4  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

45  mies  and  pray  for  those  who  persecute  you,  that  you  may  be 
sons  of  your  Father  in  heaven : 

he  makes  his  sun  rise  on  the  evil  and  the  good, 
and  sends  rain  on  the  just  and  the  unjust. 

46  For  if  you  love   only  those   who   love  you,   what  reward 

do  you  get  for  that? 
do  not  the  very  taxgatherers  do  as  much? 

47  and  if  you  only  salute  your  friends,  what  is  special  about 

that? 
do  not  the  very  pagans  do  as  much? 

48  You  must  be  perfect  as  your  heavenly  Father  is  perfect. 

SUGGESTIONS   FOR  PERSONAL   STUDY 

3.  Matt.  5:  38-42.  The  old  Mosaic  law  was  "an  eye  for  an 
eye."  Under  this  law  how  far  could  a  man  go  in  getting  even 
for  an  injury  or  a  wrong?  How  effective  is  retaliation  and 
revenge? 

2.  Read  Matt.  5:   38-42   again,  noticing  Jesus'  insistence  on 
giving  at  least  twice  as  much  in  good  to  the  man  who  has  done 
you  wrong,  "second  mile,"  "other  cheek,"  "cloak  also."     Accord- 
ing to  Jesus'  standard,  how  would  a  man  get  even  with  a  person 
who  has  done  him  an  injury? 

3.  Matt.  5:  43-48.     According  to  the  standard  of  Jesus'  day, 
you  could  hate  your  enemy.     How  far  is  that  allowed  today? 

4.  Reread  Matt.  5:   43-48,  remembering  that  the  word  here 
translated  "love,"  means  not  the  spontaneous  love  of  a  man  for 
his  wife,  or  a  lover  for  his  sweetheart,  but  ''infinite  good  will." 
How  far  do  you  think  it  is  possible  to  show  good  will  toward  a 
former  enemy,  such  as  Germany?     How?     What  do  you  think 
of  Jesus'  injunction  in  verse  48? 

5.  Read  the  parallel  account  in  Luke  6:  27-36.     What  reasons 
does  Jesus  give  for  loving  one's  enemies? 

6.  Read  the  fifth  example,  which  is  on  a  different  question, 
namely,  oaths.    Matt.  5:  33-37.     In  Jesus'  day  oaths  made  lying 
easy.      Notice    Jesus'    demand    that    a    man's    word    should    be 
reliable. 

7.  Review  the  week's  readings  quickly.    Frankly,  do  you  think 
Jesus'  ideal  on  "getting  even"  could  be  followed  in  the  punish- 
ment of  criminals,  or  in  the  treatment  of  a  business  competitor 
who  had  "done  you  dirt"?     Which  standard,  the  Old  Testament 
standard,  or  Jesus',  was  followed  in  making  the  peace  terms  at 
the  close  of  the  Great  War? 

QUESTIONS  FOR  GROUP  DISCUSSION 

i.  According  to  present-day  standards,  how  far  can  we  go 
in  "getting  even"  with  a  man  or  a  nation  that  has  done  us  wrong? 


HOW  SHOULD  A  CHRISTIAN  GET  EVEN!         25 

Just  how  much  retaliation  and  revenge  will  modern  standards 
allow  ? 

2.  According  to  the  standard  of  Jesus'  day,  how  far  could  a 
man  go  in  getting  even  or  in  his  treatment  of  enemies,  Matt.  5 : 
38^-48  (Sections  I  and  3)  ?    How  do  the  present-day  standards  on 
this  matter  compare  with  those  in  Jesus'  day? 

3.  What  was  Jesus'  idea  on  the  treatment  of  a  person  who 
had   done  you   an   injury  or   was  your   enemy,    Matt.   5:   38-48 
(Sections  2,  4,  and  7)  ?    What  did  Jesus  mean  by  "not  resisting 
an  injury,"  "other  cheek,"  "coat  also,"  "second  mile,"  "love  your 
enemies"  ? 

4.  From  your  study  of  these  examples,  how  would  you  say  a 
person  who  followed  Jesus'  ideal  would  get  even  with  a  person 
who  had  wronged  him?    How  would  he  treat  an  enemy?    What 
reason  does  Jesus  give  for  this  ideal? 

5.  What  hope  is  there  that  Jesus'  ideal  on  these  matters  could 
be  made  to  work  in  modern  life? 

a.  Would  this  ideal  work  in  business,  where  a  competitor  had 
given  you  a  dirty  deal,  and  you  had  a  chance  to  "get  even"? 
Why,  or  why  not  ? 

b.  How  far  do  the  tactics  of  a  strike  follow  the  "eye  for  an 
eye"  method  of  "getting  even"?    How  far  do  they  follow  Jesus' 
ideal   of   "turning   the   other   cheek"?     Would   Jesus'   ideals   be 
practicable  in  the  relations  of  capital  and  labor?    If  so,  how?    If 
not,  why  not? 

c.  What  is  the  basis  of   deciding  a  criminal's  punishment  in 
our  courts  today?     How  far  is  this  according  to  Jesus'  ideal  as 
here  expressed?     How  far  is  our  purpose  in  the  punishment  of 
criminals  retribution ;  how  far  "good  will"  to  the  criminals  ?  How 
far,  if  at  all,  can  Jesus'  ideal  of  giving  a  man  his  "cloak  also"  be 
followed   in   the   punishment   of   criminals,    and   society   still  be 
protected? 

d.  How  far  do  our  newspapers  and  those  who  lead  in  forming 
public  sentiment  follow  Jesus'  ideal  of  "good  will"  in  their  atti- 
tude" toward    "Reds"    who    hold    opinions    which    they   consider 
dangerous  to  the  country?    Should  they  follow  it? 

e.  In  the  peace  terms,  what  evidence  do  you  find  of  the  Old 
Testament  standard  of  "an  eye  for  an  eye"?    What  evidence  do 
you  find  of  Jesus'  ideal  of  "good  will"?    How  far  could  Jesus' 
standard  be  followed  in  the  peace  terms,  and  still  insure  safety 
for  the  world?    How  can  we  express  "good  will"  to  former  ene- 
mies, like  Germany  or  Hungary? 

6.  In  what  aspects  of  modern  life  do  you  believe  that  the  ideal 


26  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

of  Jesus   on   these   matters    is   practicable;   in  what   aspects   of 
modern  life  do  you  feel  it  is  impracticable? 

7.  If  the  individual,  the  nation,  and  the  world,  were  seriously 
to  attempt  to  embody  Jesus'  ideal  as  here  expressed,  what  are 
some  of  the  most  outstanding  changes  which  would  be  necessary? 


CHAPTER  VII 

What  Is  Wrong  with  "Bluffing"  and 
"Knocking"? 

Jesus  Attacks  Sham  and  Tells  How  to  Test  Religion 

Jesus  early  ran  against  insincerity  and  the  critical  spirit  of 
the  religious  leaders  of  his  day.  They  were  appearing  to  be  what 
they  were  not,  and  they  attacked  persons  who  refused  to  follow 
their  rules.  Jesus  did  not  leave  the  people  in  the  dark  as  to 
why  he  felt  that  such  religious  acts  as  the  prescribed  fasting, 
praying,  and  giving  to  charity  did  not  necessarily  prove  men  to 
be  religious.  He  made  plain  what  he  considered  the  test  of 
true  religion.  Those  who  are  concerned  with  organizations 
where  folks  have  to  work  together,  whether  business,  social,  or 
religious,  know  the  effect  of  "bluffing"  and  "knocking"  upon 
the  morale  of  the  group  and  will  be  interested  in  Jesus'  distinc- 
tion between  "professing"  and  "doing." 

BIBLE  REFERENCES 
Matt.  6:  1-8,  16-24. 

1  Take    care   not   to    practise    your    charity   before    men   in 
order  to  be  noticed;  otherwise  you  get  no  reward  from  your 
Father  in  heaven.     No, 

2  When  you  give  alms, 

make  no   flourish   of  trumpets   like  the  hypocrites   in   the 

synagogues  and  the  streets, 
so  as  to  win  applause  from  men ; 

I  tell  you  truly,  they  do  get  their  reward. 

3  When  you  give  alms, 

do  not  let  your  left  hand  know  what  your  right  hand  is 
doing, 

4  so  as  to  keep  your  alms  secret; 

then  your  Father  who  sees  what  is  secret  will  reward 
you  openly. 

5  Also,   when  you  pray,  you  must  not  be  like  the  hypocrites, 

for   they  like  to   stand   and   pray  in   the   synagogues   and 

at  the  street-corners, 
so  as  to  be  seen  by  men; 
I  tell  you  truly,  they  do  get  their  reward. 

27 


28  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

6  When  you  pray, 

go  into  your  room  and  shut  the  door, 
pray  to  your  Father  who  is  in  secret, 

and  your  Father  who  sees  what  is  secret  will  reward 
you. 

7  Do  not  pray  by  idle  rote  like  pagans, 

for  they  suppose  they  will  be  heard  the  more  they  say; 

8  you  must  not  copy  them ; 

your   Father  knows  your  needs  before  you  ask  him.  .  .  . 

16  When  you  fast, 

do  not  look  gloomy  like  the  hypocrites, 

for  they  look  woebegone  to  let  men  see  they  are  fasting; 
I  tell  you  truly,  they  do  get  their  reward. 

17  But  when  you  fast, 

anoint  your  head  and  wash  your  face, 

18  so  that  your  fast  may  be  seen  not  by  them  but  by  your 

Father  who  is  in  secret, 

and  your  Father  who  sees  what  is  secret  will  reward 
you. 

19  Store  up  no  treasures  for  yourselves  on  earth, 

where  moth  and  rust  corrode, 
where  thieves  break  in  and  steal : 

20  store  up  treasures  for  yourselves  in  heaven, 

where  neither  moth  nor  rust  corrode. 

where  thieves  do  not  break  in  and  steal. 

21  For  where  your  treasure  lies, 

your  heart  will  lie  there  too. 

22  The  eye  is  the  lamp  of  the  body: 

so,  if  your  Eye  is  generous, 

the  whole  of  your  body  will  be  illumined, 

23  but  if  your  Eye  is  selfish, 

the  whole  of  your  body  will  be  darkened. 
And  if  your  very  light  turns  dark, 
then — what  a  darkness  it  is ! 

24  No  one  can  serve  two  masters : 

either  he  will  hate  one  and  love  the  other, 

or  else  he  will  stand  by  the  one  and  despise  the  other — 
you  cannot  serve  both  God  and  Mammon. 

Matt.  7:  1-29. 

I    i       Judge  not,  that  you  may  not  be  judged  yourselves; 
f    2  for  as  you  judge  so  you  will  be  judged, 

and  th^measure  you  deal  out  to  others  will  be  dealt  out_tp 
yourselves. 

3  Why  do  you  note  the   splinter  in  your  brother's  eye  and 

4  fail  to  see  the  plank  in  your  own  eye?     How  can  you  say 
to  your  brother,   'Let  me  take   out  the   splinter   from   your 


"BLUFFING"  AND  "KNOCKING"  29 

5  eye,'    when   there   lies   the    plank   in   your   own   eye?     You 
hypocrite !   take   the  plank   out   of   your   own    eye   first,   and 
then  you  will  see  properly  how  to  take  the  splinter  out  of 
your  brother's  eye. 

6  Do  not  give  dogs  what  is  sacred  and  do  not  throw  pearls 
before    swine,    in    case   they   trample    them   under    foot   and 
turn  to  gore  you. 

7  Askv_aad  the  gift. will  be  yours, 

seek  and  you  will  find, 
knock  and  the  door  will  open  to  you; 

8  for  every  one  who  asks  receives, 

the  seeker  finds, 
the  door  is  opened  to  anyone  who  knocks. 

9  Why,  which  of  you,  when  asked  by  his  son  for  a  loaf,  will 

hand  him  a  stone? 

10  Or,  if  he  asks  a  fish,  will  you  hand  him  a  serpent? 

11  Well,  if  for  all  your  evil  you  know  to  give  your  children 

what  is  good, 

how  much  more  will  your  Father  in  heaven  give  good 
gifts  to  those  who  ask  him? 

12  Well  then,   whatever   you   would   like   men  to   do   to  you, 
do  just  the  same  to  them;  that  is  the  meaning  of  the  Law 
and  the  prophets. 

13  Enter  by  the  narrow  gate: 

for  [the  gate]   is  broad  and  the  road  is  wide  that  leads 

to  destruction, 
and  many  enter  that  way. 

14  But    the    road    that   leads    to    life   is   both   narrow   and 

close, 
and  there  are  few  who  find  it. 

15  Beware    of    false    prophets ;    they    come    to   you    with    the 
garb    of    sheep    but    at    heart    they    are    ravenous    wolves. 

16  You  will  know  them  by  their  fruit;   do  men  gather  grapes 
from  thorns  or  figs  from  thistles?     No, 

17  every  good  tree  bears  sound  fruit, 

but  a  rotten  tree  bears  bad  fruit; 

18  a  good  tree  cannot  bear  bad  fruit, 

and  a  rotten  tree  cannot  bear  sound  fruit. 

ip  So  you  will  know  them  by  their  fruit.  Any  tree  that 
does  not  produce  sound  fruit  will  be  cut  down  and  thrown 
into  the  fire. 

21  It   is   not   everyone    who    says    to   me,    'Lord,    Lord !'    who 
will  get  into  the  Realm  of  heaven,  but  he  who  does  the  will 

22  of  my  Father  in  heaven.     Many  will  say  to  me  at  that  Day, 
'Lord,  Lord,  did  we  not  prophesy  in  your  name?  did  we  not 
cast  out  daemons  in  your  name?  did  we  not  perform  many 

23  miracles   in  your   name?'     Then   I   will   declare  to  them,   'I 


3o  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

never  knew  you ;  depart  from  my  presence,  you  workers  of 
iniquity/ 

24  Now,   everyone  who   listens   to  these   words   of   mine   and 
acts   upon  them   will  be  like  a   sensible  man   who  built  his 

25  house  on  rock.     The  rain  came  down,  the  floods   rose,   the 
winds  blew   and  beat  upon  that   house,  but  it   did   not   fall, 

26  for  it  was  founded  on  rock.     And  everyone  who  listens  to 
these  words   of  mine   and  does  not  act  upon   them  will  be 

27  like  a  stupid  man   who  built  his  house  on   sand.     The   rain 
came  down,  the  floods  rose,  the  winds  blew  and  beat  upon 
that  house,  and  down  it  fell — w'th  a  mighty  crash." 

28  When    Jesus    finished    his    speech,    the    crowds    were    as- 

29  tounded   at   his   teaching;    for   he   taught   them   like   an    au- 
thority, not  like  their 'own  scribes. 

Luke  7:  1-50. 

1  When  he  had  finished  what  he  had  to  say  in  the  hearing 
of  the  people,  he  went  into  Capharnahum. 

2  Now   there   was    an    army-captain    who    had   a    servant   ill 
whom  he  valued  very  highly.     This   man   was  at  the  point 

3  of  death;   so,  when  the  captain  heard   about  Jesus,   he  sent 
some  Jewish  elders  to  him,   asking  him  to  come  and  make 

4  his    servant    well.      When    they    reached    Jesus    they    asked 
him  earnestly  to  do  this.     "He  deserves  to  have  this  favour 

5  from  you,"  they  said,  "for  he  is   a  lover  of  our  nation ;   it 

6  was    he   who   built    our    synagogue."      So    Jesus    went   with 
them.     But  he  was  not  far  from  the  house  when  the  captain 
sent    some    friends    to    tell    him,    "Do    not    trouble    yourself, 

7  sir,  I  am  not  fit  to  have  you  under  my  roof,  and  so  I  did  not 
consider  myself  fit  even  to  come  to  you.    Just  say  the  word, 

8  and  let  my  servant  be  cured.    For  though  I  am  a  man  under 
authority  myself,  I  have  soldiers  under  me ;  I  tell  one  man 
to  go,  and  he  goes,  I  tell  another  to  come,   and  he  comes, 

9  I  tell  my  servant,   'Do  this,'  and  he  does  it."     When  Jesus 
heard  this  he  marvelled   at  him,   and  turning  to  the   crowd 
that  followed  he  said,   "I   tell  you,   I  have  never  met   faith 

1C  like  this  anywhere  even  in  Israel."  Then  the  messengers 
went  back  to  the  house  and  found  the  sick  servant  was  quite 
well. 

11  It  was  shortly  afterwards  that  he  made  his  way  to  a  town 
called  Nain,  accompanied  by  his  disciples  and  a  large  crowd. 

12  Just  as  he  was  near  the  gate  of  the  town,  there  was  a  dead 
man  being  carried  out ;  he  was  the  only  son  of  his  mother, 
and  she  was  a  widow.     A  large  crowd  from  the  town  were 

13  with   her.     And   when   the   Lord   saw   her,   he    felt   pity   for 

14  her  and   said  to  her,   "Do  not  weep."     Then  he  went   for- 
ward  and    touched   the   bier;    the   bearers    stopped,    and    he 


"BLUFFING"  AND  "KNOCKING"  31 

15  said,  "Young  man,  I  bid  you  rise."     Then  the  corpse  sat  up 
and  began  to  speak;  and  Jesus  gave  him  back  to  his  mother. 

16  All    were    seized    with    awe    and    glorified    God.      "A    great 
prophet  has  appeared  among  us,."  they  said,  "God  has  visited 

17  his   people."     And   this   story  of   Jesus    spread  through   the 
whole  of  Judaea  and  all  the  surrounding  country. 

John's  disciples  reported  all  this  to  him.     So  John  sum- 

9  moned  two  of  his  disciples  and  sent  them  to  ask  the  Lord, 

"Are  you  the  Coming  One?    Or  are  we  to  look  out  for  some- 

20  one  else?"     When  the  men  reached  Jesus  they  said,   "John 
the  Baptist  has  sent  us  to  you  to  ask  if  you  are  the  Coming 

21  One  or  if  we  are  to  look  out  for  someone  else?"     Jesus  at 
that    moment    was    healing    many    people    of    diseases    and 
complaints  and  evil  spirits ;  he  also  bestowed  sight  on  many 

22  blind   folk.     So   he   replied,   "Go   and   report   to   John   what 
you  have,  seen  and  heard;  that  the  blind  see,  the  lame  walk, 
lepers  are  cleansed,  the  deaf  hear,  the  dead  are  raised  and 

23  to  the  poor  the  gospel  is  preached.     And  blessed  is  he  who 

24  is    repelled   by   nothing   in   me!"     When   John's    messengers 
had  gone,  he  proceeded  to  speak  to  the  crowds  about  John : 

"What  did  you  go  out  to  the  desert  to  see? 
A  reed  swayed  by  the  wind? 

25  Come,  what  did  you  go  out  to  see? 

A  man  arrayed  in  soft  robes? 

Those   who   are   gorgeously   dressed   and   luxurious   live 
in  royal  palaces. 

26  Come,  what  did  you  go  out  to  see?     A  prophet? 

Yes,  I  tell  you,  and  far  more  than  a  prophet. 

27  This  is  he  of  whom  it  is  written, 

Here  I  send  my  messenger  before  your  face, 
to  prepare  the  way  for  you. 

28  I  tell  you,  among  the  sons  of  women  there  is  none  greater 
than  John,  and  yet  the  least  in  the  Realm  of  God  is  greater 

29  than  he  is."      (On  hearing  this  all  the  people  and  the  tax- 
gatherers  acknowledged  the  justice  of  God,  as  they  had  been 

30  baptized  with  the  baptism  of  John ;  but  the   Pharisees   and 
jurists,  who  had  refused  his  baptism,   frustrated  God's  pur- 
pose for  themselves.) 

31  "To  what  then  shall  I  compare  the  men  of  this  generation? 

what  are  they  like? 

32  Like    children    sitting   in    the    marketplace    and    calling   to 
one  another, 

'We  piped  to  you  and  you  would  not  dance, 
we  lamented  and  you  would  not  weep.' 

33  For   John   the   Baptist   has   come,    eating  no   bread   and 

drinking  no  wine, 
and  you  say,  'He  has  a  devil' ; 


32  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

34  the  Son  of  man  has  come  eating  and  drinking, 

and  you  say,  'Here  is  a  glutton  and  a  drunkard, 
a  friend  of  taxgatherers  and  sinners !' 

35  Nevertheless,   Wisdom  is   vindicated   by  all  her  children." 

36  One   of  the   Pharisees  asked   him  to   dinner,   and   entering 

37  the  house  of  the  Pharisee  he  reclined  at  table.     Now  there 
was  a  woman  in  the  town  who  was  a  sinner,  and  when  she 
found    out    that    Jesus    was    at    table    in    the    house    of    the 

38  Pharisee    she    brought    an    alabaster    flask    of    perfume    and 
stood  behind   him  at  his   feet  in   tears ;   her   tears   began   to 
wet  his  feet,  so  she  wiped  them  with  the  hair  of  her  head, 
pressed   kisses   on   them,   and   anointed   them    with    the   per- 

39  fume.     When  his  host  the  Pharisee  noticed  this,  he  said  to 
himself,    "If   he   was   a   prophet   he   would   know    what    sort 
of  a  woman  this  is  who  is  touching  him ;  for  she  is  a  sinner." 

40  Then  Jesus  addressed  him.     "Simon,"  he  said,  "I  have  some- 

41  thing   to   say  to  you."     "Speak,    teacher,"   he   said.     "There 
was   a   moneylender   who   had   two   debtors ;    one   owed   him 

42  fifty  pounds,   the  other   five.     As   they  were  unable   to   pay, 
he  freely  forgave  them  both.     Tell  me,  now,  which  of  them 

43  will   love   him   most?"     "I    suppose,"   said    Simon,    "the   man 

44  who    had    most    forgiven."      "Quite    right,"    he    said.      Then 
turning    to    the    woman    he    said    to    Simon,    "You    see    this 
woman?     When  I  came  into  your  house, 

you  never  gave  me  water  for  my  feet, 

while  she  has  wet  my  feet  with  her  tears  and  wiped  them 
with  her  hair ; 

45  you  never  gave  me  a  kiss, 

while   ever    since    she    came   in    she    has    wept    pressing 
kisses  on  my  feet; 

46  you  never  anointed  my  head  with  oil, 

while  she  has  anointed  my  feet  with  perfume. 

47  Therefore  I  tell  you,   many  as  her   sins   are,   they  are   for- 
given,  for  her  love  is  great ;   whereas  he  to  whom  little   is 

48  forgiven   has   but  little  love."     And   he   said   to  her,   "Your 

49  sins  are  forgiven."     His  fellow  guests  began  to  say  to  them- 

50  selves,  "Who  is  this,  to  forgive  even  sins?"     But  he  said  to 
the  woman,  "Your  faith  has  saved  you ;  go  in  peace." 

SUGGESTIONS   FOR  PERSONAL   STUDY 

i.  Matt.  6:  1-4.  Why  does  a  man  who  parades  his  good 
acts,  or  the  man  who  boasts  of  his  bravery  in  the  service^^  secure 
contempt?  What,  according  to  Jesus,  was  wrong  with  "doing 
your  righteousness  to  be  seen  of  men"?  Why  were  the  Phar- 
isees so  careful  to  be  sure  they  got  credit  for  all  their  good  acts? 
What  example  of  this  have  you  found  today? 


"BLUFFING"  AND  "KNOCKING"  33 

2.  Matt.  6:  5-24.     What     was     the     reason     the     Pharisees 
prayed  in  public  and  wore  sad  faces  when  they  fasted?     Why 
are  you  suspicious  of  a  man  who  poses  as  being  religious?    What 
was  wrong  according  to  Jesus  with  the  motive  of  the  Pharisees 
when  they   fasted,   prayed,   and  gave  to   charity?     How   can   a 
man  keep  his  motives  single? 

3.  Matt.  7:   1-6.     Why   can't   a   man   who   "knocks"    see   his 
own    faults?     Why   should   he?     Notice   that   in   each   incident 
Jesus  calls  the  men  "hypocrites."     What  was  it  in  their  actions 
that  made  him  call  them  "hypocrites"? 

4.  Matt.  7:  7-15.     Paraphrase    the   Golden    Rule   in   modern 
style.     How  far  do  you  think  it  can  be  followed  as  the  test  of 
whether  or  not  a  person  is  religious? 

5.  Matt.  7:   16-29.     What  is  the  difference  between  "profess- 
ing" and  "doing"  in  religion?   When  does  "hearing"  result  in  ac- 
tion?    Why  should  Jesus   say  that   a   man   who   hears   without 
doing  is  like  a  man  who  builds  his  house  upon  sand? 

6.  Luke  7:  1-35.     What  was  it  about  this  Roman  army  officer 
that  Jesus  called  faith?     On  what  evidence  did  Jesus  ask  John 
to  believe  his  genuineness?     Can  your  religion  meet  that  test? 

7.  Luke   7:   36-50.     Why  did  the   Pharisees   want  to   refuse 
religion  to  this   woman?     On  what  ground   did  Jesus   say  she 
should  be  counted  religious? 

QUESTIONS  FOR  GROUP  DISCUSSION 

1.  Give  examples  in  modern  life  of  people  doing  things  for  the 
sake  of  effect.     What  do  we  mean  by  "bluffing"? 

2.  Why  did  Jesus  call  the  Pharisees,  who  did  their  praying, 
fasting,    and   charity   "to   be   seen   of   men,"   hypocrites  ?     Matt. 
6:  1-24  (Sections  I  and  2).    Would  you  or  would  yqu  not  call  a 
"bluffer"  a  hypocrite?     Why? 

3.  What  did  Jesus  have  to   say  about  the  person  who  picks 
flaws  in  others?     Matt.  7:1-6    (Section  3).     How  true  to  life, 
as  you  have  found  it,  is  Jesus*  observation  here? 

4.  What  did  Jesus  have  to  say  about  those  who  hear,  who  pro- 
fess, and  who  do?  Matt.  7:  7-29  (Sections  4  and  5).    Why  was 
Jesus  willing  to  have  John  test  his  reliability  by  his  acts?    Luke 
7:  18-28   (Section  6).     How  far  do  you  judge  a  man  by  what 
he  says  he  is,  how  far  by  what  his  acts  seem  to  show  him  to  be? 
Why  is  the  man  who  can  always  be  counted  upon  so  much  in 
demand? 

6.  Would  you  think  Jesus'  story  about  the  house  built  on  the 
rock  and  on  the  sand,  Matt.  7:  24-29  (Section^),  would  apply 
to  a  man  in  a  business  concern  or  to  a  worker  in  a  church?  If 
so,  how? 


34  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

7.  How  truly  would  you  say  a  man's  acts  are  a  picture  of  what 
he  is?    Give  examples  you  have  seen  where  a  person's  acts  were 
a  true  picture,  and  examples  where  his  acts  did  not  represent 
the  person. 

8.  How  valuable  to  a  team  or  an  organization  is  a  man  who 
plays  to  the  "grand  stand"?     Why? 

9.  What   effect   do   "bluffing"   and   "knocking"   have  upon   the 
morale  of  a  business  or  an  industrial  concern?     Upon  the  gov- 
ernment of  a  community?     In  a  church?     Why? 

10.  What  effect  would  the  adoption  of  the  Golden  Rule  have 
upon  the  effectiveness  of  the  work  within  such  an  organization? 
Can   this   be  made  to   work  out   as   the   basis   of   business   and 
political  life  as  well  as  of  religious  organizations? 


CHAPTER  VIII 

What  Is  Jesus'  Cause  in  the  World? 

Jesus'  Points  of  Emphasis  Regarding  the  Kingdom  of 

God 

Every  man  who  is  making  his  life  really  count  in  the  world 
has  a  cause.  During  the  War,  the  winning  of  the  War  was  the 
great  cause  of  many  nations.  Today  the  League  of  Nations, 
the  support  of  a  political  party,  industrial  democracy,  the  mak- 
ing of  money,  right  race  relationships,  world-wide  growth  of 
Christianity,  each  represents  the  cause  for  a  great  group  of  peo- 
ple. The  man  who  has  become  a  Christian  has  pledged  his 
loyalty  to  Jesus  and  his  cause  in  the  world.  It  is  worth  while, 
therefor^  to  learn  about  Jesus*  cause — the  Kingdom  of  God. 

While  >.-'sus  refused  to  follow  literally  the  ideas  of  his  people, 
we  have,  Nevertheless,  found  that  he  gave  himself  to  this  cause 
of  his  narfon,  the  Kingdom  of  God  (see  Chapter  I,  page  4).  In 
studying  this  lesson,  we  must  remember  that  Jesus  assumed  a 
general  understanding  of  the  term  "Kingdom  of  God"  just  as 
a  speaker  today  would  assume  an  understanding  of  the  term 
"democracy."  Whenever  Jesus  used  the  expression  "Kingdom  of 
God,"  every  listener  thought  at  once  of  an  ideal  state  of  society 
where  peace,  prosperity,  and  righteousness  would  prevail  under 
the  reign  of  God. 

Our  interest  is  in  finding  the  points  of  emphasis  made  by 
Jesus  which  may  show  where  he  differed  from  the  current  con- 
ception. In  this  study  we  must  keep  in  mind  not  only  the  imme- 
diate readings,  but  the  whole  focus  of  his  teachings  as  thus  far 
.given. 

We  will  follow  most  of  this  week  the  Matthew  account  rather 
than  the  briefer  record  in  Mark. 

BIBLE  REFERENCES 
Matt.  13:  1-9,  18-46. 

1  That   same   day  Jesus  went  out  of   the  house  and   seated 

2  himself    by    the    seaside;    but,    as    great    crowds    gathered 
to  him,  he  entered  a  boat  and  sat  down,  while  all  the  crowd 

3  stood  on  the  beach.     He  spoke  at  some  length  to  them  in 

35 


36  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

4  parables,    saying:      "A    sower   went   out   to    sow,    and   as   he 
sowed  some  seeds  fell  on  the  road  and  the  birds  came  and 

5  ate  them  up.     Some  other  seeds  fell  on  stony  soil  where  they 
had,  not  much  earth,  and  shot  up  at  once  because  they  had 

6  no  (depth  of  soil ;  but  when  the  sun  rose  they  got  scorched 

7  and  withered  away  because  they  had  no  root.     Some  other 
seeds    fell    among    thorns,    and    the    thorns    sprang    up    and 

8  choked  them.     Some  other  seeds  fell  on  good  soil  and  bore 
a  crop,  some  a  hundredfold,  some  sixty,  and  some  thirtyfold. 

9  He  who  has  an  ear,  let  him  listen  to  this."   .    .    . 

Now,   listen  to   the  parable  of   the   sower.     When   anyone 

19  hears   the   word  of  the  Realm   and   does   not  understand  -  it, 
the  evil  one  comes  and  snatches  away  what  has  been  sown 
in   his  heart;   that  is  the   man   who   is   sown   'on   the   road.1 

20  As  for  him  who  is  sown  'on  stony  soil,'  that  is  the  man  who 
hears    the    word    and    accepts    it    at    once    with    enthusiasm; 

21  he  has  no  root  in  himself,  he  does  not  last,  but  when  the 
word   brings   trouble   or  persecution  he   is   at   once   repelled. 

22  As   for  him  who  is   sown   'among  thorns,'   that   is   the   man 
who  listens  to  the  word,  but  the  worry  of  the  world  and  the 
delight    of    being    rich    choke    the    word ;    so    it    proves    un- 

23  fruitful.    As  for  him  who  is  sown  'on  good  soil,'  that  is  the 
man  who  hears  the  word  and  understands  it ;  he  bears  fruit, 
producing  now   a  hundredfold,   now   sixty,   and  now  thirty- 
fold." 

24  He    put    another    parable    before    them.      "The    Realm    of 
heaven,"  he  said,   "is  like  a  man   who   sowed  good   seed  in 

25  his  field,  but  while  men  slept  his  enemy  came  and  resowed 

26  weeds   among  the   wheat   and  then   went   away.     When   the 
blade   sprouted   and   formed  the  kernel,   then  the  weeds  ap- 

27  peared  as  well.     So  the  servants  of  the  owner  went  to  him 
and   said,   'Did  you  not   sow   good   seed   in   your   field,    sir? 

28  How   then   does   it   contain   weeds?'     He   said  to   them,   'An 
enemy    has    dene    this/     The    servants    said    to    him,    'Then 

29  would  you  like  us  to  go  and  gather  them?'     'No,'  he   said, 
'for  you  might  root  up  the  wheat  when  you  were  gathering 

30  the   weeds.     Let  them  both   grow   side  by  side   till  harvest; 
and    at   harvest-time    I    will    tell   the    reapers    to    gatherv  the 
weeds  first  and  tie  them  in  bundles  to  be  burnt,  but  to  Col- 
lect the  wheat  in  my  granary.' " 

31  He    put    another    parable    before    them.      "The    Realm    of 
heaven,"  he  said,   "is  like  a  grain  of  mustard-seed  which  a 

32  man  takes  and  sows  in  his  field.     It  is  less  than  any  seed  on 
earth,  but  when  it  grows  up  it  is  larger  than  any  plant,   it 
becomes  a  tree,  so  large  that  the  wild  birds  come  and  roost 
in  its  branches." 

33  He  told  them  another  parable.     "The  Realm  of  heaven," 


JESUS'  CAUSE  IN  THE  WORLD  37 

he  said,  "is  like  dough  which  a  woman  took  and  buried  in 
three  pecks  of  flour,  till  all  of  it  was  leavened." 

34  Jesus   said   all   this   to   the   crowds   in   parables ;   he   never 

35  spoke  to  them  except  in  a  parable — to  fulfil  what  had  been 
said  by  the  prophet, 

/  will  open  my  mouth  in  parables, 

I  will  speak  out  what  has  been  hidden  since  the  founda- 
tion of  the  world. 

36  Then   he  left  the   crowds  and  went   indoors.     Arid   his   dis- 
ciples came  up  to  him  saying,  "Explain  to  us  the  parable  of 

37  the  weeds  in  the  field."     So  he  replied,  "He  who  sows  the 

38  good  seed  is  the  Son  of  man;  the  field  is  the  world;  the  good 
seed  means  the  sons  of  the  Realm;  the  weeds  are  the  sons 

39  of  the  evil  one;   the  enemy  who   sowed  them  is  the   devil; 
the   harvest   is   the   end   of   the   world,   and   the   reapers    are 

40  angels.     Well  then,  just  as  the  weeds  are  gathered  and  burnt 

41  in  the  fire,  so  will  it  be  at  the  end  of  the  world ;  the  Son  of 
man  will  despatch  his  angels,  and  they  will  gather  out  of  his 
Realm    all    who    are   hindrances    and    who    practise    iniquity, 

42  and   throw   them   into   the    furnace   of   fire ;   there   men   will 

43  wail  and  gnash   their  teeth.     Then  the  just   will   shine   like 
the  sun  in  the  Realm  of  their  Father.     He  who  has  an  ear, 
let  him  listen  to  this. 

44  The  Realm  of  heaven   is  like  treasure  hidden  in  a  field; 
the  man  who  finds  it  hides   it  and  in  his   delight  goes  and 
sells  all  he  possesses  and  buys  that  field. 

45  Again,  the  Realm  of  heaven  is  like  a  trader  in  search  af 

46  fine  pearls ;   when  he  finds  a  single  pearl  of  high  price,  he 
is  off  to  sell  all  he  possesses  and  buy  it." 

Mark  4:  26-29. 

26  And   he   said,   "It   is   with   the   Realm   of   God   as   when   a 

27  man  has   sown  seed  on   earth ;  he  sleeps  at  night  and  rises 
by  day,  and  the  seed  sprouts  and  shoots  up — he  knows  not 

28  how.      (For  the  earth  bears   crops  by  itself,   the  blade  first, 
the  ear  of  corn  next,   and  then  the  grain   full  in   the   ear.) 

29  But  whenever  the  crop  is  ready,  he  has  the  sickle  put  in  at 
once,  as  harvest  has  come." 

SUGGESTIONS   FOR  PERSONAL   STUDY 

1.  Matt.  13:   1-9;  18-23.     How  far  is  Jesus'  classification  of 
folks  in  this  parable  true  to  present-day  experience  in  asking  men 
to   respond  to  any  great  cause?     Which   of   these   four  classes 
are  slackers? 

2.  Matt.  13:  24-30.    -How    do    disloyal    persons    in    a    cause 
pass  for  loyal  ones? 


38  '    HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

3.  Matt.  13:  31-35.     What  evidence  had  Jesus  that  his  cause 
would  succeed?     How  would  it  succeed? 

4.  Matt.   13:  36-43.     What   new    light    does    Jesus'    explana- 
tion throw  on  the  kind  of  a  cause  he  had? 

5.  Matt.  13:  44-46.     How  much  value  did  Jesus  place  upon 
his  cause? 

6.  Read   rapidly  through   the   Mark   account,    Mark  4:    1-34- 
Note  especially  Mark  4:  26-29,  not  found  in  Matthew.     What 
does  this  emphasize  as  to  the  growth  of  Jesus'  cause?     Is  this 
true  to  life? 

7.  Glance  over  your  week's  reading,  and  jot  down  what  seem 
to  be   the   principal  points   of   emphasis   which   Jesus   makes   in 
regard  to  the  Kingdom  of  God. 

QUESTIONS  FOR  GROUP  DISCUSSION 

1.  W'hat  are  some  of  the  causes  to  which  persons  are  giving 
their  lives? 

2.  Wrhat  is  a  cause?    What  is  the  Christian  cause? 

3.  For  religious  Jews,  the   chief   cause   was  the   Kingdom  of 
God.     \Vhat  was  the  Jewish  idea  of  the  Kingdom  of  God? 

4.  Among  his  hearers  were  those  who  expected  the  Kingdom 
to  come  suddenly  and  miraculously;  and  others  who  thought  it 
would  be  achieved  by  military  revolution.     In  contrast,  what  does 
J'esus  give  as  the  method  by  which  the  Kingdom  would  come? 
What  points  of  emphasis  does  Jesus  make  as  to  the  Kingdom  of 
God?    Matt.  13:  1-9;  18-46;  Mark  4:  26-29  (Sections  1-7). 

5.  Christians  today  say  they  are  working  for  the  establishment 
of  the  Kingdom  of  God.    What  do  they  mean? 

6.  In  Jesus'  day,   the  Kingdom  of  God   represented   an  ideal 
state  of  society  where  peace,  prosperity,  and  righteousness  would 
prevail.     Would  you  or  would  you  not  say  that  those  who  are 
giving  their  lives  for  such  causes  as  the  uplifting  of  the  poor, 
better  chance  for  criminals,  right  race  relationships,  the  elimina- 
tion of  child  labor,  are  working  for  the  Kingdom  of  God? 

7.  Where  is  this  Kingdom  of  God  to  be  set  up,  in  the  hearts 
of  men  or  in  society? 

8.  What  is  the  difference,  if  any,  between  the  Church  and  the 
Kingdom  of  God?     In  how  far  is  the  Church  the  Kingdom  of 
God  and  how  far  is  it  a  means  of  helping  bring  the  Kingdom? 
To  what  extent  would  you  say  the  establishment  of  the  Kingdom 
of  God  is  the  chief  aim  of  the  Church?    What  evidence  have  you 
of  this? 


JESUS'  CAUSE  IN  THE  WORLD  39 

9.  What  about  working  for  the  Kingdom  of  God  will  make  the 
strongest  appeal  to  the  loyalty  of  men  today?    Why  does  it  fail 
to  bring  this  appeal? 

10.  Do  Christians  really  believe  that  present  business,  indus- 
trial,   and   political   life   can   be   made   a   part   of   the   Kingdom 
of  God?    What  reason  have  you  for  your  answer? 

11.  Judging  by  the  success  thus  far  achieved,  how  much  hope 
is  there  that  our  present  economic,   political,  and   international 
dealings  can  be  made  Christian?    If  Christianity  will  not  work  in 
these  social  relationships,  would  you  or  would  you  not  still  believe 
in  it  as  the  true  religion?    Why? 

12.  What  aspects  of  our  social,  industrial,  political,  and  inter- 
national life  must  be  changed  if  they  are  to  be  a  part  of  the 
Kingdom  of  God?    Just  how  much  real  effort  and  sacrifice  will  be 
necessary  to  accomplish  this? 


CHAPTER  IX 

What  Makes  Religion  Stand  the  Test  ? 

Jesus  Shows  the  Essentials  in  Everyday  Religion 

The  remarkable  characteristic  of  the  religion  of  Jesus  was 
the  way  it  stood  the  tests  of  actual  life.  Demand  is  being 
made  upon  religion  today  as  never  before,  to  meet  the  test  of 
everyday  life.  Therefore  it  will  be  of  interest  to  find  what 
Jesus  felt  was  essential  in  everyday  religion,  if  it  is  to  meet 
the  strain  and  stress  of  life. 

BIBLE  REFERENCES 
Mark  4:  35-41. 

35  ^    That    same    day    when    evening    came    he    said    to    them, 

36  ''Let   us    cross    to    the    other    side;"    so,    leaving   the    crowd, 
they  took  him  just  as  he  was  in  the  boat,   accompanied  by 

37  some   other  boats.     But   a   heavy   squall   of    wind   came    on, 
and    the    waves    splashed    into    the    boat,    so    that    the    boat 

38  filled.     He  was  sleeping  on  the  cushion  in  the  stern,  so  they 
woke   him   up    saying,    'Teacher,    are   we   to   drown,    for   all 

39  you   care?"     And  he   woke  up,   checked  the  wind,   and   told 
the   sea,    "Peace,   be   quiet."     The   wind    fell   and   there   was 

40  a  great  calm.     Then  he  said  to  them,  "Why  are  you  afraid 

41  like  this?     Have  you  no   faith  yet?"     But  they  were  over- 
awed and  said  to  each  other,   "Whatever  can  he  be,   when 
the  very  wind  and  sea  obey  him?" 

Mark  5:  21-43. 

21  Now   when   Jesus   had   crossed   in   the  boat   to   the   other 
side    again,    a    large    crowd    gathered    round    him ;    so    he 

22  remained    beside    the    sea.      A    president    of    the    synagogue 
called   Jairus    came   up,    and   on   catching   sight    of   him    fell 

23  at   his    feet   with   earnest   entreaties.     "My   little   girl   is   dy- 
ing,"  he    said,    "do    come   and    lay   your   hands    on    her   that 

24  she  may  recover  and  live."     So  Jesus  went  away  with  him. 
Now  a  large  crowd  followed  him ;  they  pressed  round  him. 

25  And   there  was   a   woman   who   had   had   a  hemorrhage    for 

26  twelve  years — she  had  suffered  a  great  deal  under  a  num- 

40 


RELIGION  STANDS  THE  TEST  41 

her  of  doctors   and  had   spent  all  her  means  but  was  none 

27  the  better;  in  fact  she  was  rather  worse.     She  heard  about 
Jesus,  got  behind  him  in  the  crowd,  and  touched  his  robe ; 

28  "If    I    can    touch    even    his    clothes,"    she    said    to    herself, 

29  ''I    will    recover."      And    at    once    the    hemorrhage    stopped, 
and  she  felt  in  Her  body  that  she  was  cured  of  her  complaint. 

30  Jesus  was   at   once   conscious   that   some   healing  virtue   had 
passed    from    him,    so    he    turned    round    in    the    crowd    and 

31  asked,    "Who    touched    my    clothes?"        His    disciples    said 
to    him,     "You    see    the    crowd    are    pressing    round    you, 

32  and    yet    you    ask,     'Who    touched    me?'"       But    he    kept 

33  looking     round     to      see      who     had     done     it,      and     the 
woman,  knowing  what  had  happened  to  her,  came   forward 
in    fear    and    trembling    and    fell    down    before    him,    telling 

34  him  all  the   truth.     He    said   to  her,    "Daughter,   your    faith 
has    made   you   well;    go   in    peace   and   be    free    from   your 

35  complaint."     He   was    still   speaking   when    a   message    came 
from  the  house  of  the  synagogue-president,  "Your  daughter 
is   dead.     Why  trouble  the  teacher   to   come   any   further?" 

36  Instantly  Jesus   ignored  the  remark  and   told  the  president, 

37  "Have  no   fear,  only  believe."     He  would  not  allow  anyone 
to   accompany   him   except    Peter   and   James   and   John   the 

38  brother   of   James.      So   they  reached   the   president's   house, 
where  he  saw  a  tumult  of  people  wailing  and  making  shrill 

39  lament ;    and    on    entering    he    asked    them,    "Why    make    a 

40  noise  and  wail?     The  child  is  not  dead  but  asleep."     They 
laughed    at    him.      However,    he    put    them    all    outside    and 
taking  the    father   and  mother   of   the   child   as   well   as   his 

41  companions  he  went  in  to  where  the  child  was  lying;   then 
he   took   the   child's   hand   and   said  to   her,    "Talitha  koum" 
— which    may   be   translated,    "Little   girl,    I    am   telling   you 

42  to  rise."     The  girl  got  up  at  once  and  began  to   walk   (she 
was  twelve  years  old)  ;  and  at  once  they  were  lost  in  utter 

43  amazement.     But  he  strictly  forbade  them  to  let  anyone  know 
about  it,  and  told  them  to  give  her  something  to  eat. 

Mark  6:  1-16,  30, -31. 

1  Leaving   there   he   went   to   his   native   place,    followed   by 

2  his   disciples.     When   the   sabbath   came,    he   began   to   teach 
in    the    synagogue,    and   the    large    audience    was    astounded. 
"Where  "did    he    get    all    this?"    they    said.      "What    is    the 
meaning  of   this   wisdom   he   is   endowed   with?     And  these 

3  miracles,  too,  that  his  hands  perform!     Is  this  not  the  joiner, 
the    son    of    Mary    and    the    brother    of    James    and    Joses 
and    Judas    and    Simon?      Are    not   his    sisters    settled    here 

4  among  us?"     So   they  were   repelled   by  him.     Then   Jesus 
said  to  them,  "A  prophet  never  goes  without  honour  except 


42  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

in    his    native    place    and    among    his    kinsfolk    and    in    his 

5  home."     There  he  could  not  do  any  miracle,  beyond  laying 

6  his  hands  on  a  few  sick  people  and  curing  them.     He  was 
astonished  at  their  lack  of  faith. 

7  Then  he  made  a  tour  round  the  villages,   teaching.     And 
summoning  the  twelve  he  proceeded  to  send  them  out  two 

8  by  two ;  he  gave  them  power  over  the  unclean  spirits,   and 
ordered  them   to  take  nothing  but   a  stick   for  the  journey, 

9  no  bread,   no  wallet,  no  coppers  in   their  girdle ;   they  were 
to    wear    sandals,    but    not   to    put    on    two    shirts,    he    said. 

10  Also,    he    told    them,    "Wherever    you    enter    a    house,    stay 

11  there   till  you   leave   the   place.     And  if   any  place   will  not 
receive   you   and    the   people   will    not    listen   to   you,    shake 
off    the    very   dust    under   your    feet   when   you    leave    as    a 

12  warning    to    them."      So    they    went    out    and    preached    re- 

13  pentance;    also    they    cast    out    a    number    of    daemons    and 
cured  a  number  of   sick  people  by  anointing  them  with  oil. 

14  Now  this    came   to   the   hearing   of    king   Herod,    for    the 
name    of     Jesus    had    become    well    known ;    people    said, 
"John   the   Baptizer   has   risen    from   the   dead,    that   is   why 

15  miraculous  powers   are  working  through  him" ;   others   said, 
"It  is  Elijah,"  others  again,  "It  is  a  prophet,  like  one  of  the  old 

16  prophets."     But  when  Herod  heard  of  it  he  said,  "John  has 
risen,  the  John  I  beheaded."     .     .     . 

30  Now  the  apostles  gathered  to  meet  Jesus  and  reported  to 

31  him  all  they  had   done  and  taught.     And  he   said  to  them, 
"Come  away  to  some  lonely  spot  and  get  a  little  rest"   (for 
there  were  many  people  coming  and  going,  and  they  could 
get  no  time  even  to  eat). 

Mark  7:  1-23. 

1  Now  the  Pharisees  gathered  to  meet  him,  with  some  scribes 

2  who    had    come    from   Jerusalem.      They   noticed    that    some 
of  his  disciples  ate  their  food  with  'common'    (that   is,   un- 

3  washed)    hands.      (The   Pharisees   and   all  the   Jews   decline 
to  eat  till  they  wash  their  hands  up  to  the  wrist,  in  obedi- 

4  ence    to    the    tradition    of    the    elders;    they    decline    to  v eat 
what  comes  from  the  market  till  they  have  washed  it ;  and 
they  have  a  number  of  other  traditions  to  keep  about  wash- 

5  ing  cups  and  jugs  and  basins   [and  beds]).     Then  the  Phar- 
isees  and   scribes   put   this  question   to   him,    "\Vhy  do  your 
disciples   not   follow   the   tradition   of   the   elders?     Why   do 

6  they   take   their    food   with    'common'    hands?"     He    said    to 
them,   "Isaiah  made  a  grand  prophecy  about  you  hypocrites 
— as  it  is  written, 

This  people  honours  me  with  their  lips, 
but  their  heart  is  far  away  from  me: 


RELIGION  STANDS  THE  TEST  43 

7  vain  is  their  worship  of  me, 

for  the  doctrines  they  teach  are  but  human  precepts. 

8  You   drop   what  God   commands   and  hold  to  human  tradi- 

9  tion.     Yes,    forsooth,"   he  added,    "you   set   aside   what   God 

10  commands,    so   as   to   maintain   your   own   tradition.     Thus, 
Moses  said,  Honour  your  father  and  mother,  and,  He  whet 

11  curses   his  father   or  mother  is   to   suffer  death.     But  you 
say  that  if   a  man  tells  his   father  or  mother,   'This   money 
might  have   been   at   your    service,   but   it   is    Korban'    (that 

12  is,    dedicated    to    God),    he    is    exempt,    so    you   hold,    from 

13  doing  anything   for  his    father   or   mother.     That  is   repeal- 
ing the  word  of  God  in  the  interests  of  the  tradition  which 

14  you  keep  on.     And  you  do  many  things  like  that."     Then  he 
called  the  crowd  to  him  again  and  said  to  them,   "Listen  to 
me,  all  of  you,  and  understand  this : — 

15  nothing   outside   a   man   can   defile   him  by  entering  him; 

it  is  what  comes  from  him  that  defiles  him. 

16  If  anyone  has  ears  to  hear,  let  him  listen  to  this." 

17  Now   when   he   went   indoors   away   from   the   crowd,   his 
disciples   asked   him   the   meaning   of    this   parabolic   saying, 

18  He  said  to  them,   "So  you  do  not  understand,   either?     Da 
you  not  see  how  nothing  outside  a  man  can  defile  him  by 

19  entering   him?      It    does    not    enter   his    heart   but   his   belly 
and  passes   from  that  into  the   drain"    (thus  he  pronounced 

20  all   food  clean).     "No,"  he  said,   "it  is  what  comes   from  a 

21  man,  that  is  what  defiles  him.  t  From  within,  from  the  heart 

22  of  man,  the  designs  of  evil  come:  sexual  vice,  stealing,  mur- 
der, adultery,  lust,  malice,  deceit,  sensuality,  envying,  slander, 

23  arrogance,  recklessness,  all  these  evils  issue  from  within  and 
they  defile  a  man." 

SUGGESTIONS   FOR  PERSONAL   STUDY 

1.  Mark  4:  35-41.     What  made  the  difference  between  Jesus 
and  his  disciples  in  their  conduct  in  the  danger  of  the  storm? 
How  does  real  confidence  in  God  affect  a  man's  action  in  danger? 

2.  Mark  5:  21-43.     "Fear  not,  only  believe."    "Your  faith  has 
made  you  well."     Compare   Matt.  9:  27-31.     "As  you  believe." 
What  is  meant  by  "believe,"  "faith"?     Read  also  the  connecting 
incident,  Mark  5:1-20,  not  printed  out  here. 

3.  Mark  6:    1-6.     Why  did  Jesus'   townspeople   speak  slight- 
ingly of  his   ability?     Why  could  not  Jesus   help  people  when 
they  refused  to  believe  in  him?    Just  how  much  is  belief  neces- 
sary before  one  person  can  help  another — belief  in  a  doctor,  for 
instance?    What  is  it  to  believe  in  another? 

4.  Mark  6:  7-13,  30,  31.     Why  did  Jesus  send  out  the  twelve? 
Was  their  errand  a  religious  one?    Why  do  you  say  so? 


44  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

5.  Mark  6:    14-16.     On  what  ground  did  Herod  think  John 
was  risen  from  the  dead  when  he  heard  of  the  work  of  Jesus? 

6.  Mark  7:    1-16.     The   Pharisees  continued  to  harass  Jesus 
because  they  were  angry  that  he  and  his  disciples  persisted  in 
openly  disregarding  their  most  revered  rules  and  customs.     In 
the  incident  here  recorded,  Jesus  speaks  even  more  sharply  than 
on   previous   occasions.     Why  did   he  say  that   following   their 
customs  failed  to  make  them  religious?     In  what  regards  does 
this  hold  true  today? 

7.  Mark   7:    17-23.     Jesus   felt  keenly  enough   on   this   ques- 
tion to  be  willing  to  make  himself  an  outlaw  in  the  sight  of  the 
religious  leaders  of  his  day.     Just  what  does  he  say  will  make 
religion  stand  the  test? 

QUESTIONS  FOR  GROUP  DISCUSSION 

1.  In  becoming  a   Christian   and   a  church  member,   give   ex- 
amples of  things  people  are  required  to  do  which  they  did  not 
do  before  and  things  which  they  are  required  to  give  up  which 
they,  did  previously.     What  emphasis  is  placed  upon  "Do's"  and 
"Don'ts"  in  religion? 

2.  What  did  Jesus  find  wrong  with  the  emphasis  upon  rules 
and   traditions  in   the   religion   of   his   day?     Where   did   Jesus 
place  the  emphasis  in  religion?    Mark  7:  1-23  (Sections  6  and  7). 

3.  In  your  observation,  is  a  religion  that  is  founded  upon  rules 
and  customs  powerless  in  the  'time  of  testing  or  sudden  emer- 
gency ?    Why  or  why  not  ? 

4.  What  do  you  think  of  Jesus'  emphasis  upon  the  "heart"? 
Mark  7:    1-23    (Sections   6   and   7).      When   a  person   meets   a 
sudden  test,  what  determines  how  he  will  act?     If  the  "heart" 
is  right,  can  the  action  be  wrong?     When?     "Can  a  man  pos- 
sess    such     virtues     as    generosity,     purity,     truthfulness,     and 
self-sacrifice,  without  being  religious?     Can  a  man  be  religious 
without    possessing    such    virtues?"      (Quoted    from    Bosworth- 
Lobingier's  "The  Master's  Way"). 

5.  What  emphasis  did  Jesus  place  upon  faith  and  belief?    Mark 
4'-  35-4i;  5:  1-43   (Sections  I  and  2).     What  is  faith? 

6.  What   is   the   relation   of    faith   to   action?     If   a   man   be- 
lieves something,  will  he  always  do  it?    Why  do  you  make  your 
answer? 

7.  How  does  the  faith  in  God  essential  in  religion  differ  from 
the  faith  in  officers  necessary  for  success  in  a  great  battle? 

8.  What  is  the  test  of  the  power  of  religion?     How  far  is  the 
power  of  religion  tested  by  what  you  have  become,  and  how  far 


RELIGION  STANDS  THE  TEST  45 

by  how  much  better  you  are  than  you  were?  Under  what,  if 
any,  circumstances  might  one  man  act  worse  than  another,  and 
still  be  more  genuinely  religious? 

9.  What  qualities   in  religion-  are  necessary  if  it  is  to  stand 
the  test  of  everyday  lif,e? 


CHAPTER  X 

How  Shall  We  Treat  Other  Races  and 
Nationalities  ? 

Jesus,  a  Fugitive,  Breaks  with  Jewish  Narrowness 

The  events  thus  far,  with  the  exception  of  Jesus'  visit  to  the 
temple  at  twelve  and  his  answer  to  John's  call  and  the  ensuing 
wilderness  crisis,  occurred  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Sea  of  Galilee. 
In  this  chapter  we  have  the  record  of  a  hasty  journey  to  Tyre 
and  Sidon  and  through  Decapolis.  The  chances  are  that  Jesus 
was  driven  out  of  Galilee  by  the  bitter  hostility  of  the  religious 
leaders.  Ori  this  journey  an  incident  occurs  which  makes  it 
necessary  for  him  to  face  directly  whether  he  will  be  bound  by 
the  narrow  religious  and  racial  prejudices  of  his  people.  We 
shall  study  this  incident  and  some  material  from  other  parts 
of  the  record  to  see  what  attitude  Jesus  took  on  this  matter. 

Class,  racial,  and  national  prejudices  are  a  repeated  cause 
of  friction  and  disorder  today.  Such  prejudices  were  particu- 
larly strong  among  the  Jews.  Any  person  not  a  Jew  was  an 
outcaste.  He  could  come  into  possession  of  the  true  religion 
of  the  Jews  only  by  becoming  a  Jew.  What  attitude<  did  Jesus 
take?  Are  we  today  true  to  the  example  and  the  spirit  of  Jesus 
in  our  treatment  of  those  of  other  races  and  nationalities? 

BIBLE  REFERENCES 
Mark  7:  24-37. 

24  l!eaving  there,  he  went  away  to  the  territory  of  Tyre  and 
Sidon.     He  went  into  a  house  and  wished  no  one  to  know 

25  of  it,  but  he   could  not   escape  notice ;   a  woman   heard   of 
him,   whose   daughter  had   an  unclean   spirit,   and   she   came 

26  in  and  fell  at  his  feet   (the  woman  was  a  pagan,  of   Syror 
Phoenician   birth)    begging   him -to   cast   the   daemon    out    of 

27  her  daughter.     He  said  to  her,   "Let  the  children  be   satis- 
fied first  of  all ;  it  is  not   fair  to  take  the  children's  bread 

28  and   throw   it   to   the   dogs."     She   answered   him,    "No,    sir, 
but    under    the    table    the    dogs    do    pick    up    the    children's 

29  crumbs."     He  said  to  her,  "Well,  go  your  way;  the  daemon 

30  has  left  your  daughter,   since  you  have  said  that."     So  she 

46 


OTHER  RACES  AND  NATIONALITIES  47 

went  home  and  found  the  child  lying  in  bed  and  the  daemon 
gone  from  her. 

31  He  left  the  territory  of   Tyre   again   and  passed   through 
Sidon  to  the  sea  of  Galilee,  crossing  the  territory  of  Decap- 

32  olis.      And    a    deaf    man    who    stammered    was    brought    to 
him,  with  the  request  that  he   would  lay  his  hand  on  him. 

33  So  taking  him  aside  from  the  crowd  by  himself,  he  put  his 
fingers  into  the  man's  ears,  touched  his  tongue  with  saliva, 

34  and    looking    up    to    heaven    with    a    sigh    he    said    to    him, 

35  "Ephphatha"  (which  means,  Open).     Then. his  ears  were  [at 
once]  opened  and  his  tongue  freed  from  its  fetter — he  began 

36  to    speak    correctly.      Jesus    forbade    them    to    tell    anyone 
about  it,   but  the   more  he   forbade  them   the   more   eagerly 

37  they  made   it  public;   they  were   astounded  in   the   extreme, 
saying,   "How   splendidly   he  has   done   everything!     He   ac- 
tually makes  the  deaf  hear  and  the  dumb  speak!" 

Mark  8:  1-2-1. 

1  In    those    days    when    a   large   crowd    had    again-  gathered 
and    when    they    had    nothing    to    eat,    he    called    his    dis- 

2  ciples  and  said  to  them,   "I   am  sorry   for  the   crowd ;   they 
have  been  three  days  with  me  now,  and  they  have  nothing 

3  to  eat.     If  I  send  them  home  without  food  they  will  faint 
on    the    road.      Besides,    some    of    them    have    come    a    long 

4  way."     His    disciples    replied.    "Where    can    one    get    loaves 

5  to    satisfy    them    in    a    desert    spot    like    this?"      He    asked 
them,     "How    many    loaves    have    you    got?7'       They     said, 

6  "Seven."     So    he    ordered    the    crowd    to    recline    on    the 
ground,  and  taking  the  seven  loaves  he  gave  thanks,  broke 
them,   and   gave  them  to   his   disciples   to   serve   out.     They 

7  served  them  out  to  the  crowd,  and  as  they  also  had  a  few 
small    fish,    he   blessed    them   too    and   told    the    disciples    to 

8  serve  them  out  as  well.     So  the  people  ate  and  were  satis- 
fied, and  they  picked  up   seven  baskets  of   fragments   which 

9  were  left  over.     (There  were  about  four  thousand  of  them.) 

10  Then   he    sent   them    away,    embarked    at   once    in    the    boat 
with     his     disciples,     and     went     to     the     district     of     Dal- 
manutha. 

11  Now  the   Pharisees   came   out   and   started   to   argue   with 
him,  asking  him  for  a  Sign  from  heaven,  by  way  of  tempt- 

12  ing  him.     But  he  sighed  in  spirit  and  said, 

"Why  does  this  generation  demand  a  Sign? 

I  tell  you  truly,  no  Sign  shall  be  given  this  generation." 

13  Then  he  left  them,  embarked  again,  and  went  away  to  the 
opposite  side. 

14  They  had  forgotten  to  bring  any  bread,  and  had  only  one 

15  loaf   with   them   in  the  boat.     So   he   cautioned   them,    "Sec 


48  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

and  beware  of  the  leaven   of  the   Pharisees  and  the  leaven 

16  of     Herod."     "Leaven?"    they    argued   'to    themselves,     "\ve 

17  have   no   bread   at   all."     He   noted   this   and    said   to   them, 
"Why  do  you  argue  you  have  no  bread?     Do  you  not  see,' 
do   you   not   understand,    even   yet?     Are   you    still    dull    of 
heart  ? 

18  You  have  eyes,  do  you  not  see? 

you  have  ears,  do  you  not  hear? 

19  Do  you  not  remember  how  many  baskets  full  of  fragments 
you   picked   up   when    I    broke   the   five   loaves    for   the    five 

20  thousand?"     They  said,  "Twelve."     "And  how  many  basket- 
fuls  of   fragments  did  you  pick  up  when  I  broke  the  seven 

21  loaves   for  the   four  thousand?"     They  said,   "Seven."     "Do 
you  not  understand  now?"  he  said. 

Luke  4:   24-27. 

24  He   added,    "I   tell   you   truly,   no   prophet   is   ever   welcome 

25  in  his  native  place.     I  tell  you  for  a  fact, 

In    Israel   there   were   many   widows    during   the    days    of 

Elijah, 
when    the    sky    was    closed    for    three    years    and    six 

months, 
when  a  great  famine  came  over  all  the  land : 

26  yet  Elijah  was  not  sent  to  any  of  these, 

but  only    to  a  widow  woman  of  Zarephath  in  Sidon. 

27  And  in  Israel  there  were  many  lepers  in  the  time  of  the 

prophet  Elisha, 

Yet  none  of  these  was  cleansed, 
but  only  Naaman  the  Syrian." 
Matt.  10 :  5-7. 

5  These    twelve    men    Jesus    despatched    with    the    following 

6  instructions,    "Do   not  go   among   the    Gentiles,    rather   make 

7  your  way  to   the   lost   sheep   of   the   house   of    Israel.     And 
preach  as  you  go,  tell  men,  The  Reign  of  heaven  is  near/  " 

Luke  10:  25-37. 

25  Now  a  jurist  got  up  to  tempt  him.     "Teacher,"  he   said, 

26  "what  am  I  to  do  to  inherit  life  eternal?"     He  said  to  him, 
"What  is  written   in  the   law?     What   do  you  read  there?" 

27  He  replied,  "You  must  love   the  Lord  your  God  with  your 
whole  heart,  with  your  whole  soul,  with  your  whole  strength, 
and  with  your  whole   mind.     Also   your  neighbor  as  your- 

28  self"     "A  right  answer !"  said  Jesus ;  "do  that  and  you  will 

29  live."    Anxious  to  make  an  excuse  for  himself,  however,  he 

30  said  to  Jesus,  "But  who  is  my  neighbour?"     Jesus  rejoined, 
"A  man  going  down   from  Jerusalem  to  Jericho   fell  among 
robbers   who    stripped   and   belaboured   him   and   then    went 


OTHER  RACES  AND  NATIONALITIES  49 

31  off  leaving  him  half-dead.     Now  it  so  chanced  that  a  priest 
was  going  down  .the  same  road,  but  on  seeing  him  he  went 

32  past  on  the  opposite  side.    So  did  a  Levite  who  came  to  the 
'  33  spot;  he  looked  at  him  but  passed  on  the  opposite  side.    How- 
ever a  Samaritan  traveller  came  to  where  he  was  and   felt 

34  pity  when  he  saw  him ;  he  went  to  him,  bound  his  wounds 
up,    pouring    oil    and    wine    into    them,    mounted    him    on 
his   own   steed,   took   him   to   an    inn,   and   attended   to   him. 

35  Next  morning  he   took  out  a  couple   of   shillings   and   gave 
them  to   the  innkeeper,   saying,   'Attend  to   him,   and  if  you 
are  put  to  any  extra  expense  I  will  refund  you  on  my  way 

36  back/    Which  of  these  three  men,  in  your  opinion,  proved  a 

37  neighbour   to   the   man    who    fell   among   the   robbers?"    He 
said,  "The  man  who  took  pity  on  him."     Jesus  said  to  him, 
"Then  go  and  do  the  same." 

SUGGESTIONS   FOR  PERSONAL   STUDY 

1.  Mark  7:  24-30.     The    probabilities    are    that    Jesus    was 
practically  driven  from  Galilee 'by  the  Jewish  leaders  and  is  here 
a  fugitive.     What  was  the  significance  of  Jesus'  listening  to  the 
appeal  of  a  Greek  woman?     Why  would  not  ah  orthodox  Jew 
have  done  this? 

2.  Mark  7:  31-37.     Look  on  the  map  and  see  the  extent  of 
Jesus'  journey.    Notice  the  comment  of  the  crowd:  "How  splen- 
didly he  has  done  everything." 

3.  Glance    quickly   through    the    incidents    recorded    in    Mark 
8:  1-21.     This  is  connecting  material,  not  directly  on  the  week's 
topic.     Notice   especially  Jesus'   answer   to   the   appeal   of   need 
and  his  warning  concerning  the  teachings  of  the  Pharisees. 

4.  We  have   already  considered  the  incidents  of   Jesus'   visit 
to  his  home  town.    Read  the  latter  part  of  this  incident,  Luke  4: 
24-27.     When   the  people   in   Jesus'   home   town   were   doubtful 
about  him,  Jesus   seems,    from   the  illustration  he  gave,   to   say 
that  foreigners  might  receive  him. 

5.  Compare    Jesus'    instructions    to    his    disciples,    Matt.    10: 
5-7.     How  do  you  reconcile  this  with  Jesus'  ministering  to  the 
foreigner  ? 

6.  Luke    10:    25-37.     Later,   while  on  his   way  to  Jerusalem, 
Jesus  told  the  story  of  the  good   Samaritan.     We  will  study  it 
more  carefully  in  a  later  chapter.     Read  it  now  quickly,  trying 
to  imagine  the  shock  to  the  racial  and  religious  prejudices  of  the 
Jews  that  a  hated  Samaritan  should  be  set  forth  as  an  example 
of    genuine    liberality,    while    their    own    religious    leaders,    the 
priests  and  the   Levites,   were  condemned.     From  this  incident, 
how  far  do  you  feel  Jesus  was  bound  by  the  religious  prejudices 
of  his  people? 


50  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

7.  Glance  over  the  week's  reading,  keeping  in  mind  the  racial 
and  religious  prejudices  of  the  Jews.  What  was  Jesus'  attitude? 
How  for  was  he  bound  by  Jewish  narrowness? 

QUESTIONS  FOR  GROUP  DISCUSSION 

1.  Between    what    races    and    nationalities    is    there    racial    or 
national  prejudice?    What  are  the  causes  of  this  feeling? 

2.  In  what  ways  do  we  show  racial  or  national  prejudice  in 
our  town  and  in  our  nation?    What  is  race  prejudice?    Why  does 
one  race  or  nationality  assume  that  it  is  superior  to  another? 

3.  What  racial  and  religious  prejudices  bound  the  Jews?    What 
were  the  causes  of  this  bitter  feeling? 

4.  What   was   Jesus'   attitude   toward   the   narrowness    of   his 
people  ? 

a.  Mark  7:  24-37  (Sections  I  and  2).    Where  did  Jesus  go  on 
this  journey?     Why?     What  was  the  significance  of  his  listen- 
ing to  the  appeal  of  this  Greek  woman? 

b.  Luke   4:   24-27    (Section   4).     What  light   do   these   exam- 
ples, given  by  Jesus,  throw  on  his  attitude  toward  the  foreigner? 
Why  were  his  fellow  townspeople  "filled  with  rage"? 

c.  Luke  10 :  25-37    (Section  6).     In  this  story  how  did  Jesus 
shock  the  prejudices  of  the  Jews? 

d.  Matt.   10:  5-7    (Section  5).     How  do  you  reconcile  Jesus' 
instructions    here    with    his    attitude    as    revealed    in    the    other 
incidents? 

e.  How  did  Jesus  deal  with  the  racial  and  national  prejudices 
of  his  people? 

5.  To   what  extent  is   our  prejudice   against  other  races   and 
nations  justified;  to  what  extent  is  it  based  on  the  kind  of  false 
pride  with  which  Jesus  broke  in  his  day?     Has  any  race  a  right 
to  assume  that  it  is  superior  to  another?     Why  or  why  not? 

6.  Why  does  a  Christian  believe  in  the  possibilities  of  other 
peoples?     How  do  Christians   show  this  belief?     How   far  has 
the  missionary's  confidence  in  the  possibilities  of  backward  peo- 
ples been  justified? 

7.  What   races   and   nationalities   make   good   citizens    of    our 
country?    What  races  and  nationalities  make  poor  citizens?    Do 
foreigners   help  or   hinder  the   country?     Why?     what   restric- 
tions, if  any,  would  you  place  upon  the  admission  of  foreigners 
into  this  country? 

8.  To   what   extent   are   certain    races   and   nations   backward 


OTHER  RACES  AND  NATIONALITIES  51 

because  they  have  poor  natural  qualifications;  to  what  extent 
are  they  backward  because  they  have  had  less  opportunity?  What 
races,  if  any,  are  unworthy  to  be  considered  equal  to  the  whites? 

9.  What  are  the  causes  of  race  riots?    How  far  do  they  result 
from  causes  that  are  real;  how  much  from  prejudiced  newspa- 
pers and  other  propaganda? 

10.  How  do  we  show  our  disrespect  for  other  nations?     Spe- 
cifically, what  harm,  if  any,  is  there  in  a  Christian  man  referring 
to  other  nationalities  by  disrespectful  nicknames? 

11.  What   are   some    of   the   things    immediately   necessary,  if 
other  races  and  nationalities  in  our  own  country  and  backward 
nations  in  the  world  are  to  be  guaranteed  a  fair  opportunity? 


Summary  of  Events 

We  have  covered  thus  far  in  the  life  of  Jesus  the  following 
major  sections : 

1.  Jesus,  on  the  Jordan,  answers  John's  challenge  and  in  the 
wilderness  struggle  decides  his  life  mission  (Chapters  I  and  II). 

2.  Jesus,   healing  and  teaching   in   Galilee,   wins   the   approval 
of  the  people,  and  in  repeated  clashes  with  the  religious  leaders 
makes   clear  his   moral   and   religious    standards    (Chapters    III 
to  IX). 

3.  Jesus   is    forced  by  the   growing  hostility  of   the   religious 
leaders  to  leave  Galilee,  and  visits  Tyre,  Sidon,  and  Decapolis 
(Chapter  X). 

It  will  be  seen  that  up  to  this  time  most  of  the  events  we 
have  studied  occurred  in  Capernaum  and  in  the  immediate 
vicinity  of  the  Sea  of  Galilee,  a  section  no  larger  than  an  aver- 
age county  in  the  United  States.  This  was,  however,  a  densely 
populated  region. 


CHAPTER  XI 

How  Much  Does  Loyalty  Cost? 

Jesus  Faces  His  Followers  with  Costly  Sacrifice 

Every  cause  has  followers  as  long  as  things  are  going  well. 
Fair-weather  followers  we  call  them.  When  the  odds  go 
against  an  enterprise  and  genuine  difficulties  arise,  then  real 
loyalty  is  tested. 

In  the  incidents  recorded  in  this  chapter,  Jesus  faces  his  fol- 
lowers with  just  such  a  test.  The  opposition  of  the  Scribes 
and  Pharisees  had  grown  more  severe.  Jesus,  practically  a 
fugitive,  had  made  the  quick  tour  of  Tyre  and  Sidon  and 
through  the  Decapolis  (see  Chapter  X,  page  46).  Jesus  sees 
what  is  ahead  if  he  is  to  remain  true  to  his  decision  in  the 
wilderness  crisis  and  persist  in  the  course  which  he  has  been 
following.  Seemingly  the  disciples  have  not  yet  sensed  the 
danger  and  suffering  ahead,  and  believe,  despite  the  increasing 
hostility  of  the  religious  leaders,  that  in  some  way  Jesus  will 
establish  the  earthly  kingdom  for  which  they  had  been  looking. 
Look  for  evidences  of  this  in  the  readings  in  this  chapter.  We 
have  here  a  crisis  or  turning  point  in  Jesus'  life.  He  goes  with 
his  disciples  a  day's  journey  north  to  Caesarea  Philippi,  at  the 
base  of  Mt.  Hermon  and  near  the  source  of  the  Jordan.  There 
he  faces  with  them  the  suffering  and  death  ahead  and  appeals 
for  loyalty  in  the  face  of  costly  sacrifice.  Let  us  see  how  much 
loyalty  costs. 

BIBLE  REFERENCES 

Mark  8:  27 — 9:  50. 

27  Then   Jesus   and   his   disciples   set   off   for   the   villages   of 
Caesarea  Philippi ;   and  on  the  road  he  inquired  of  his  dis- 

28  ciples,    "Who    do    people    say    I    am?"      "John    the    Baptist," 
they  told  him,  "though  some  say  Elijah  and  others  say  you 

29  are  one   of  the   prophets."     So  he   inquired   of   them,    "And 
who    do    you    say    I    am?"      Peter    replied,    "You    are    the 

30  Christ."     Then  he   forbade  them  to  tell   anyone   about  him. 

31  And  he  proceeded  to  teach  them  that  the  Son  of  man  had 
to  endure  great  suffering,  to  be  rejected  by  the  elders  and 
the    high    priests    and    the    scribes,    to    be    killed    and    after 

53 


54  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

32  three    days    to    rise    again ;    he    spoke    of    this    quite    freely. 

33  Peter   took   him   and   began   to   reprove   him    for   it,    but   he 
turned    on    him    and    noticing   his    disciples    reproved    Peter, 
telling  him,   "Get  behind  me,   you   Satan  1     Your   outlook   is 

34  not   God's   but   man's."     Then   he   called   the   crowd   to   him 
with   his   disciples   and   said  to   them,   "If   anyone   wishes   to 
follow  me,  let  him  deny  himself,  take  up  his  cross,  and  so 
follow  me; 

35  for  whoever  wants  to  save  his  life  will  lose  it, 

and  whoever  loses  his  life  for  my  sake  and  the  gospel's 
will  save  it. 

36  What  profit  is   it   for  a  man  to  gain  the  whole  world  and 

37  to  forfeit  his  soul?     What  could  a  man  offer  as  an  equiva- 
lent for  his  soul? 

38  Whoever  is  ashamed  of  me  and  my  words  in  this  disloyal 
and  sinful  generation,  the   Son  of  man  will  be  ashamed  of 
him  when  he  comes  in  the  glory  of  his  Father  with  the  holy 

1  angels.      I    tell    you    truly,"    he    said    to    them,    "there    are 
some   of   those   standing  here   who   will   not   taste   death   till 
they  see  the  coming  of  God's  Reign  with  power." 

2  Six   days  afterwards  Jesus  took    Peter,    James    and   John, 
and   led  them  up  a  high  hill  by  themselves  alone ;   in  their 

3  presence     he    was    transfigured    and    his     clothes    glistened 
white,  vivid  white,   such  as  no   fuller  on  earth  could  bleach 

4  them.  And  Elijah  along  with  Moses  appeared  to  them,   and 

5  conversed    with    Jesus.      So    Peter    addressed    Jesus,    saying, 
"Rabbi,  it  is  a  good  thing  we  are  here ;  let  us  put  up  three 

6  tents,  one  for  you,  one  for  Moses,  and  one  for  Elijah"   (for 

7  he  did  not  know  what  to  say,  they  were  so  terrified).     Then 
a   cloud   came   overshadowing  them,    and    from   the    cloud   a 
voice    said,    "This   is   my   Son,   the   Beloved,    listen   to   him." 

8  And  suddenly  looking  round  they  saw  no  one  there  except 

9  Jesus  all  alone  beside  them.     As  they  went   down   the   hill, 
he    forbade    them    to    tell    anyone    what    they    had    seen,    till 

10  such   time   as   the    Son   of   man   rose    from   the   dead.     This 
order    they    obeyed,    debating    with    themselves    what    'rising 

11  from   the   dead'   meant.     So   they  put  this   question   to  ^  him, 
"Why  do  the  [Pharisees  and]   scribes  say  that  Elijah  has  to 

12  come  first?"     He   said  to  them,   "Elijah   does  come  first,   to 
restore   all   things ;    but   what   is    written    about    the    Son   of 
man    as   well  ?     This,    that   he   is   to   endure   great    suffering 

13  and   be   rejected.     As    for    Elijah,    I    tell   you    he   has    come 
already,  and  they  have  done  to  him  whatever  they  pleased 

14  — as    it    is    written    of   him."      When    they   reached    the    dis- 
ciples   they    saw    a    large    crowd    round    them,    and    some 

15  scribes    arguing    with    them.      On    seeing    him    the    whole 

16  crowd    was    thunderstruck    and    ran    to    greet    him.      Jesus 


HOW  MUCH  DOES  LOYALTY  COST?       .        55 

17  asked    them,    "What    are    you    discussing    with    them?"      A 
man    from    the    crowd    answered   him,    "Teacher,    I    brought 

18  my   son    to    you;    he    has    a   dumb    spirit,    and    whenever    it 
seizes    him    it    throws    him    down,    and    he    foams    at    the 
mouth  and  grinds  his  teeth.     He  is  wasting  away  with  it ; 
so  I  told  your  disciples  to  cast  it  out,  but  they  could  not." 

19  He  answered  them,   "O   faithless  generation,  how  long  must 
I    still  be   with   you?   how   long   have    I   to   bear   with    you? 

20  Bring  him   to   me."     So   they  brought  the   boy  to  him,   and 
when    the    spirit   saw   Jesus    it   at   once    convulsed   the    boy; 
he    fell    on    the    ground    and    rolled    about    foaming    at    the 

21  mouth.      Jesus    asked    his    father,    "How    long   has    he    been 

22  like    this?"      "From    childhood,"    he    said;    "it    has    thrown 
him  into  fire  and   water  many  a   time,   to  destroy  him.     If 
you    can    do    anything,    do    help    us,    do .  have    pity    on    us." 

23  Jesus   said   to   him,    "  'If   you   can !'     Anything  .can   be   done 

24  for  one  who  believes."     At  once  the  father  of  the  boy  cried 

25  out,   ''I   do  believe;   help  my  unbelief."     Now  as  Jesus  saw 
that    a    crowd    was    rapidly    gathering,    he    checked    the    un- 
clean  spirit.     "Deaf   and   dumb  spirit,"  he  said,   "leave  him, 

26  I   command  you,   and  never   enter  him   again."     And  it  did 
come,    out,    after    shrieking    aloud    and    convulsing   him    vio- 
lently.    The  child  turned  like  a  corpse,  so  that  most  people 

27  said,  "He  is  dead" ;  but,  taking  his  hand,  Jesus  raised  him 

28  and  he  got  up.     When  he  went  indoors  his  disciples  asked 

29  him  in  private,   "Why  could  we.  not  cast  it  out?"     He  said 
to  them,  "Nothing  can  make  this  kind  come  out  but  prayer 
and  fasting." 

30  On    leaving    there    they   passed   through    Galilee.      He    did 

31  not    want    anyone    to    know    of    their    journey,    for    he    was 
teaching    his    disciples,    telling    them    that    the    Son    of    man 
would  be  betrayed  into  the  hands  of  men,  that  they  would 
kill  him,   and  that  when  he  was  killed  he  would  rise  again 

32  after    three    days.      But   they    did    not   understand    what    he 
said,  and  they  were  afraid  to  ask  him  what  he  meant. 

33  Then  they  reached  Capharnahum.     And  when  he  was  in- 
doors  he   asked   them,    "What   were   you   arguing   about   on 

34  the  road  ?"    They  said  nothing,  for  on  the  road  they  had  been 

35  disputing    about    which    of    them    was    the    greatest.      So   he 
sat   down   and   called   the   twelve.     "If   anyone   wants   to   be 
first,"  he  said  to  them,  "he  must  be  last  of  all  and  the  ser- 

36  vant  of  all."    Then  he  took  a  little  child,  set  it  among  them, 
and  putting  his  arms  round  it  said  to  them, 

37  "Whoever    receives    one    of    these   little    ones    in    my   name 

receives  me, 

and   whoever   receives   me  receives  not  me   but  him   who 
sent  me." 


56  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

38  John   said   to   him,   "Teacher,    we   saw   a   man   casting   out 
daemons    in    your   name ;    but    he    does    not    follow    us,    and 

39  so  we  stopped  him."     Jesus  said,  "Do  not  stop  him ;  no  one 
who   performs    any   miracle    in    my   name    will    be    ready    to 

40  speak  evil  of  me.     He  who  is  not  against  us  is  for  us. 

41  Whoever  gives  you  a  cup  of  water  because  you  belong  to 
Christ,  I  tell  you  truly,  he  shall  not  miss  his  reward. 

42  And   whoever   is   a   hindrance  to   one   of   these   little   ones 
who   believe,   it   were  better   for   him   to   have   a  great   mill- 
stone hung  round  his  neck  and  be  thrown  into  the  sea. 

43  If  your  hand  is  a  hindrance  to  you,  cut  it  off: 

better  be  maimed  and  get  into  Life, 

than  keep  your  two  hands  and  go  to  Gehenna,  to  the 

fire  that  is  never  quenched. 

45      If  your  foot  is  a  hindrance  to  you,  cut  it  off: 
better  get  into  Life  a  cripple, 

than  keep  your  two  feet  and  be  thrown  into  Gehenna. 

47  If  your  eye  is  a  hindrance  to  you,  tear  it  out : 

better  get  into  God's  Realm  with  one  eye, 

than  keep  your  two  eyes  and  be  thrown  into  Gehenna, 

48  where    their  worm   never   dies  and   the   fire   is  never 

put  out. 

49  Everyone  has   to   be   consecrated  by   the   fire   of   the   dis- 
cipline. 

50  Salt  is  excellent : 

but    if    salt    is    tasteless,    how    are    you    to    restore    its 

flavour? 

Let  there  be  'salt ,  between  you* ; 
be  at  peace  with  one  another." 

SUGGESTIONS   FOR  PERSONAL   STUDY 

1.  Mark  8:  27-33.     In  reading  this  incident,  remember  what 
we  found  in  Study  I    (see  page  4)    about  the  Jewish  hope  that 
the  Christ  or  Messiah  would  start  a  great  kingdom  such  as  King 
David    had.      What    does    Jesus    here    say   will    happen    to    this 
Messiah?     Why  should  this  prediction   of  a   disgraceful   death 
bring  such  a  shock?     Read  verse  33.     How  did  the  issue  here 
facing  Jesus  compare  with  that  in  the  wilderness  crisis?     (See 
Chapter  II.) 

2.  Mark  8:  34 — 9:  i.    This  multitude  was  made  up  of  Jews, 
looking  for  a  real  deliverer  who  would  get  rid  of  the  Roman 
power  and  set  up  this  new  Jewish  kingdom.    What  do  you  think 
of  Jesus'  offer  of   suffering  and  sacrifice  to  this   crowd  as  an 
appeal  for  followers? 

3.  Reread  Mark  8:  27 — 9:  i,  noticing  especially  the  summary 
Jesus  makes  of  his  appeal   (verse  35).     This  statement  sounds 


HOW  MUCH  DOES  LOYALTY  COST?  57 

like  a  contradiction.     What  does  Jesus  mean?     How  far  do  you 
find  this  is  true  today — in  business  for  instance? 

4.  Mark  9:   2-13.     Remember  the  prediction  Jesus  had  just 
made  of  what  he  and  his  followers  would  have  to  suffer.    What 
help  would  an  experience  like  this  give  for  the  suffering  ahead? 
What  is  the  relation  of  a  genuine  religious  experience,  say  in  a 
prayer  meeting  or  revival  service,  to  the  everyday  difficulties  of 
life? 

5.  Mark  9:  14-29.     Notice  that  Jesus  and  his  disciples  came 
up  against  the  real  needs  of  life  just  as  soon  as  they  got  back 
into  the  valley.    Why  is  it  so  hard  to  keep  the  joy  and  enthusiasm 
of  a  religious  meeting  when  confronted  by  the  everyday  diffi- 
culties of  life? 

6.  Mark  9:  30-35.     Just  after  Jesus  had  again  told  them  of 
the  suffering  and  death  ahead,  the  disciples  have  an  argument 
as  to  who  will  get  the  biggest  place  in  this  kingdom.     Why  was 
it    difficult    for    Jesus'  disciples    to    understand    what    he    said 
about  the  cost  of  following  him? 

7.  Mark  9:  36-50.     Notice  especially  verses  42-47.     Do  you 
believe  a  Christian  life  is  worth  that  much  of  a  cost?     Why 
or  why  not? 

QUESTIONS  FOR  GROUP  DISCUSSION 

1.  When   persons   are  asked  to   enlist   as    followers   of   Jesus, 
or  to  join  the  Church  or  some  organization  of  the  Church,  what 
inducements  are  offered  them  to  lead  them  to  do  this? 

2.  What  did  Jesus  offer  the  crowds  if  they  would  follow  him? 
Mark  8:  34-38  (Section  2).     Would  you  or  would  you  not  call 
Jesus'  offer  an  inducement?     Why? 

3.  What  benefits  did  the  disciples  and  the  crowds  think  they 
would  receive  when  the  Messiah  came?    What  was  the  common 
idea  in  Jesus'  day  concerning  the  Messiah  and  the  Kingdom  of 
God? 

4.  What    did   Jesus    predict   would    happen    to    the    Christ    or 
Messiah?     Mark  8:  27-33  (Section  i).     Judging  by  the  reply  of 
Peter,  Mark  8:  33,  how  did  the  disciples  receive  this  news? 

5.  What  did  Jesus  mean  by  "deny  yourself,"   "take  up  your 
cross,"    "lose   your    life"?      In    terms    of    present-day   life,    how 
would  you  state  Jesus'  appeal  to  the  disciples  and  the  crowds? 

6.  In  asking  young  men  or  women  to  become  Christians  today 
or  to  join  the  Church,  which  will  bring  the  greater  response: 
a  statement  of  the  benefits  of  the  Christian  life,  or  Jesus'  appeal 
of  a  chance  for  costly  sacrificial  service?     Why? 


58  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

7.  Which   brings   the   greater   response   for   enlistment   in   the 
army  or  navy:  the  appeal  of  peace  time,  good  pay,  educational 
opportunities,  and  a  chance  to  see  the  world ;  or  the  appeal  during 
the  Great  War,  danger,   suffering,  death,  but  a  chance  to   help 
defeat  the  Kaiser?     Why? 

8.  Name    some    things    requiring    sacrifice    and    hard    service 
which  you  could  offer  a  person  today  to  induce  him  to  enlist  in 
Jesus'  cause. 

9.  Why  does  it  cost  so  little  to  be  a  Christian  today?     Suppose 
a  Christian  started  out  really  to  live  by  Jesus'  standards  in  busi- 
ness, industrial,  and  political  life,  and  to  help  change  conditions 
which  are  wrong,   how  much,  hard  service   and  sacrifice   would 
be  necessary? 

10.  Why  are  Christians   so   apathetic  in   the   face   of   the  un- 
Christian  conditions  in  the  world?     Is  martyrdom  necessary  to- 
day if  the  Kingdom  is  to  be  brought  in?    Why  or  why  not? 

11.  Why  are  men  willing  to  make  the   supreme   sacrifice   for 
the  cause  of  country  and  not  for  the  cause  of  Christ? 

Who  is  the  slacker  in  Jesus'  cause? 


Summary  of  Events 

We  come  now  to  the  fifth  major  section  of  Jesus'  life,  the 
incidents  on  the  journey  to  Jerusalem.  Most  of  these  are  re- 
corded in  Luke  only  and  are  arranged  with  very  little  reference 
to  the  chronological  order.  Just  as  some  person,  after  going 
on  a  trip  with  a  noted  man  from  San  Francisco  to  Washington, 
might  write  down  without  much  reference  to  when  or  where 
they  occurred,  the  interesting  incidents  on  the  trip,  so  here  we 
have  a  series  of  reminiscences  of  Jesus'  journey  to  Jerusalem. 
Evidently  the  same  kind  of  questions  came  up  repeatedly  on  the 
journey,  for  in  different  places  in  the  record  the  same  type  of 
material  occurs.  This  is  but  natural.  A  man  on  a  political 
tour  today,  for  instance,  would  face  the.  same  type  of  questions 
in  different  places  along  his  route. 

In  the  study  of  this  material,  therefore,  it  is  rearranged 
topically  under  the  major  questions  and  issues  which  Jesus  faces 
on  his  way  to  Jerusalem.  This  covers  Chapter  XII  to  XVIII. 

The  major  sections  of  the  life  of  Jesus  thus  far  are  the  fol- 
lowing : 

1.  Jesus,  beside  the  Jordan,  answers  John's  challenge  and  in 
the  wilderness  struggle  decides  his  life  mission  (Chapters  I  and 

ii). 

2.  Jesus,  healing  and  teaching  in  Galilee,  wins  the  approval  of 
the  people,  and  in  repeated  clashes  with  the  religious  leaders  he 
makes   clear  his   moral  and   religious   standards    (Chapters   III 
to  IX). 

3.  Jesus  is   forced  by  the  growing  hostility  of  the   religious 
leaders  to  leave  Galilee,  and  he  visits  Tyre,  Sidon,  and  Decapolis 
(Chapter  X). 

4.  Jesus  at  Caesarea  Philippi  faces  with  his  disciples  the  cost 
of  Messiahship  and  starts  for  Jerusalem   (Chapter  XI). 

5.  Jesus  continues  his  work  and  teaching  on  the  journey  to 
Jerusalem   (Chapters  XII  to  XVIII). 


59 


CHAPTER  XII 

What  Good  Does  It  Do  to  Pray? 

Jesus  Answers  Inquiries  about  Prayer 

Already  we  have  had  hints  of  the  reality  and  power  of  Jesus' 
praying.  The  disciples  were  so  impressed  that  they  asked  Jesus 
to  share  with  them  the  secret  and  to  teach  them  how  to  pray. 

BIBLE  REFERENCES 
Luke  10 :   1-24. 

1  After    that    the    Lord    commissioned    other    seventy    dis- 
ciples,  sending  them  in   front  of  him  two  by  two  to  every 

2  town    and    place    that    he    intended    to    visit    himself.       He 
said   to   them,    "The   harvest   is   rich,   but   the   labourers   are 
few ;  so  pray  the  Lord  of  the  harvest  to  send  labourers  to 

3  gather   his   harvest.      Go  your   way;    I   am   sending  you   out 

4  like   lambs    among   wolves.     Carry  no   purse,    no   wallet,  .no 

5  sandals.    Do  not  stop  to  salute  anybody  on  the  road.     What- 
ever house  you  enter,  first  say,  'Peace  be  to  this  household !' 

6  Then,   if   there   is   a  soul  there  breathing  peace,  your  peace 
will    rest    on    him ;    otherwise    it    will    come    back    to    you. 

7  Stay  at  the  same  hou:*e,  eating  and  drinking  what  the  peo- 
ple   provide    (for    the    workman    deserves    his    wages)  ;    you 

8  are  not  to  shift  from  one  house  to  another.     Wherever  you 
are  received  on  entering  any  town,  eat  what  is  provided  for 

9  you,  heal  those  in  the  town  who  are  ill,  and  tell  them,v  The 

10  Reign  of  God  is  nearly  on  you/     But  wherever  you  are  not 
received   on   entering  any  town,   go   out   into   the   streets   of 

11  the  town  and  cry,  The  very  dust  of  your  town  that  clings  to 
us  we  wipe  off  from  our  feet  as  a  protest.     But  mark  this, 

12  the  Reign  of  God  is  near !'     I  tell  you,  on  the  great  Day  it 
will  be  more  bearable  for  Sodom  than  for  that  town.     Woe 

13  to  you,   Khorazin !   woe  to  you,   Bethsaida !     Had  the  mira- 
cles performed   in  you  been  performed  in  Tyre  and   Sidon, 
they    would    long    ago    have    been    sitting   penitent    in    sack- 

14  cloth  and  ashes.     But  it  will  be  more  bearable  for  Tyre  and 

60 


WHAT  GOOD  DOES  IT  DO  TO  PRAY?  61 

15  Sidon  at  the  judgment  than  for  you.    And  you,  O  Capharna- 
huml    Exalted  to  heaven?    No,  you  will  sink  to  Hades! 

16  He  who  listens  to  you  listens  to  me, 

he  who  rejects  you  rejects  me, 

and  he  who  rejects  me  rejects  him  who  sent  me." 

17  The  seventy  came  back  with  joy.     "Lord,"  they  said,  "the 

18  very   daemons   obey  us   in  your   name."     He    said   to   them, 
"Yes,    I    watched    Satan    fall    from    heaven    like    a    flash    of 

19  lightning.     I  have  indeed  given  you  the  power  of   treading 
on  serpents  and   scorpions   and   of   trampling   down    all   the 

20  power  of  the  Enemy;  nothing  shall  injure  you.     Only, 

do  not  rejoice  because  the  spirits  obey  you: 

rejoice  because  your  namest  are  enrolled  in  heaven." 

21  He  thrilled  with  joy  at  that  hour  in   the   holy   Spirit,    say- 
ing,  "I  praise  thee,   Father,   Lord  of  heaven  and  earth,   for 
concealing   this    from    the    wise    and    learned    and    revealing 
it    to    the    simple-minded ;    yes,    Father,    I    praise    thee    that 
such   was   thy   chosen   purpose."     Then   turning   to   the   dis- 
ciples he  said, 

22  "All  has  been  handed  over  to  me  by  my  Father : 

and  no  one  knows  who  the  Son  is  except  the  Father, 
or  who  the  Father  is  except  the  Son, 
and  he  to  whom  the   Son  chooses  to  reveal  him." 
Then  turning  to  the  disciples  he  said  privately, 

23  "Blessed  are  the  eyes  that  see  what  you  see ! 

24  For  I  tell  you  many  prophets  and  kings  have  desired  to 

see  what  you  see, 
but  they  have  not  seen  it ; 
and  to  hear  what  you  hear, 
but  they  have  not  heard  it." 

Luke  ii :  1-13. 

1  He  was  praying  at  a  certain  place,   and  when  he  stopped 
one  of  his  disciples   said   to   him,    "Lord,   teach  us   to   pray, 

2  as  John  taught  his  disciples."     He  said  to  them, 

"When  you  pray,  say,  Father, 
thy  name  be  revered, 
thy  Reign  begin ; 

3  give  us  our  bread  for  the  morrow  day  by  day, 

4  and  forgive  us  our  sins 

for  we  do  forgive  everyone  who  has  offended  us; 
and  lead  us  not  into  temptation." 

5  And  he  said  to  them,  "Suppose  one  of  you  has  a  friend,  and 
you  go  to  him  at  midnight  and  say  to  him,  'Friend,  let  me 

6  have  three  loaves ;  for  a  friend  of  mine  travelling  has  come 

7  to  my  house  and   I  have  nothing  to  set  before  him/     And 
suppose  he  answers  from  the  inside,  'Don't  bother  me;  the 


62  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

door   is   locked   by   this   time,    and    my   children    are    in   bed 

8  with  me.     I  can't  get  up  and  give  you  anything/     I  tell  you, 
though  he   will  not  get   up   and   give  you   anything  because 
you  are  a  friend  of  his,  he  will  at  least  rise  and  give  you 

9  whatever  you  want,  because  you  persist.     So  I  tell  you, 

ask  and  the  gift  will  be  yours, 
seek  and  you  will  find, 
knock  and  the  door  will  open  to  you ; 

10  for  everyone  who  asks  receives, 

the  seeker  finds, 

the  door  is  opened  to  anyone  who  knocks. 

11  What  father  among  you,  if  asked  by  his   son   for  a  loaf, 

will  hand  him  a  stone? 

Or,  if  asked  for  a  fish,  will  hand  him  a  serpent  instead 
of  a  fish? 

12  Or,  if  asked  for  an  egg,  will  he  hand  him  a  scorpion ? 

13  Well,  if  for  all  your  evil  you  know  to  give  your  children 

what   is   good, 

how   much   more   will  your   Father   give  the   holy   Spirit 
from  heaven  to  those  who  ask  him?" 

Luke  18:  1-14. 

1  He   also   told   them   a   parable   about   the   need   of   always 

2  praying    and   never   losing   heart.      "In    a   certain   town,"    he 
said,    "there   was    a   judge    who   had   no    reverence    for   God 

3  and  no  respect  even  for  man.     And  in  that  town  there  was 
a   widow   who   used   to    go   and    appeal   to   him    for    'Justice 

4  against  my  opponent !'    For  a  while  he  would  not,  but  after- 
wards he  said  to  himself,  Though  I  have  no  reverence  for 

5  God   and  no   respect  even   for   man,   still,   as   this   widow   is 
bothering  rne,    I   will   see  justice   done   to   her — not  to   have 

6  her   for   ever  coming  and   pestering  me/     Listen,"    said   the 

7  Lord,  "to  what  this  unjust  judge  says!     And  will  not  God 
see  justice   done  to   his   elect  who   cry  to   him  by  day  and 

8  night?     Will  he  be  tolerant  to  their  opponents?     I  tell  you, 
he  will  quickly  see  justice  done  to  his  elect!     And  yet,  \yhen 
the  Son  of  man  does  come,  will  he  find  faith  on  earth?" 

9  He  also  told  the  following  parable  to  certain  persons  who 
were    sure   of    their   own    goodness   and    looked    down    upon 

10  everybody  else.     4<Two  men  went  up  to  pray  in  the  temple ; 

11  one  was  a  Pharisee  and  the  other  was  a  taxgatherer.     The 
Pharisee    stood    up    and   prayed    by   himself    as    follows :     'I 
thank  thee,  O  God,  I  am  not  like  the  rest  of  men,  thieves, 

12  rogues,   and  immoral,  or  even  like  yon  taxgatherer.     Twice 

13  a  week  I  fast ;  on  all  my  income  I  pay  tithes/     But  the  tax- 
gatherer  stood  far  away  and  would  not  lift  even  his  eyes  to 
heaven,  but  beat  his  breast,  saying,  'O  God,  have  mercy  on 


WHAT  GOOD  DOES  IT  DO  TO  PRAY?  63 

14  me  for  my  sins !'    I  tell  you,  he  went  home  accepted  by  God 
rather  than  the  other  man ; 

for  everyone  who  uplifts  himself  will  be  humbled, 
and  he  who  humbles  himself  will  be  uplifted." 

Mark  i:  35-39.     See  page  n. 

Mark  6;  45-47. 

45  Then  he   made   the   disciples   at  once   embark  in  the  boat 
and  cross  before  him  towards  Bethsaida,   while  he  dismissed 

46  the 'crowd;   and  after  saying  goodbye  to  them  he  went  up. 

47  the  hill  to  pray. 

Luke  6:  12,  13. 

12  It  was  in  these  days  that  he  went  off  to  the  hillside  to 

13  pray.     He  spent  the  whole  night  in  prayer  to  God,  and  when 
day   broke   he    summoned   his   disciples,    choosing   twelve   of 
them,  to  whom  he  gave  the  name  of  'apostles' : 

Luke  9:  18,  28,  29. 

18     ^Now   it  happened   that  while  he   was   praying  by  himself 
his  disciples  were  beside  him.   .    .    . 

28  It  was  about  eight  days  after  he  said  this,  when  he  took 
Peter,   John,   and  James,   and   went  up  the  hillside   to   pray. 

29  While  he  was  praying  the  appearance  of  his  face  altered  and 
his  dress  turned  dazzling  white. 

SUGGESTIONS   FOR  PERSONAL   STUDY 

1.  Luke  10:    1-16.     How   did  the   disciples  help   answer   the 
prayer  for  laborers? 

2.  Luke  10 :   17-24.     To  what  did  the  disciples  ascribe  their 
success?     How  much  does   God  really  help   a  man  on  a  great 
mission? 

3.  Luke  n :   1-4.     (Compare  Matt.  6:  5-15.)     What  are  the 
points  of  emphasis  in  the  Lord's  Prayer?     What  light  does  it 
throw  on  how  to  pray? 

4.  Luke  ii :  5-13.     Must  God  be  begged?    If  all  that  is  nec- 
essary is  to  ask,  why  beg  God? 

5.  Luke  18:   1-8.     How  willing  is  God  to  answer  prayer? 

6.  Luke  18:  9-14.     Why   was   the   tax-gatherer's   prayer   an- 
swered rather  than  the  religious  Pharisee's? 

7.  Let  us  glance  back  over  the  records  of  Jesus'  life  as  we 
have  read  them  thus  far  and  see  when  Jesus  slipped  away  from 
the  crowds  for  prayer.    Read  Mark  i:  35-39,  6:  45-47.     Notice 
the  place  of  prayer,  according  to  Luke's  record,  in  several  other 
events  already  studied.    Read  Luke  6:12,  13;  9:  18,  28,  29. 


64  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

QUESTIONS  FOR  GROUP  DISCUSSION 

1.  What  is  prayer?     Why  do  people  pray? 

2.  When    Jesus'    disciples    asked    him    how    to    pray,    what 
reply  did  he  make?     Luke  n  :  1-4   (Section  3).     What  are  the 
main  elements  in  the  Lord's  Prayer?     What  does  it  show  as  to 
how  to  pray?     What  did  Jesus  mean  by  prayer? 

3.  Under   what   circumstances   did   Jesus    withdraw '  for    quiet 
and   prayer    (Section   7)  ?     What   is   the   relation   of   prayer   to 
one's  ability  to  do  well  his  part  in  the  world? 

4.  What  point  does  Jesus  make  about  persistence  in   prayer? 
Luke  ii :  5-13;   Luke   18:   1-8    (Sections  4  and  5).     Must  God 
be  begged?    If  God  knows  our  needs,  why  ask  him  at  all? 

5.  Why  was  the  tax-gatherer's   prayer  answered   rather   than 
the  Pharisee's?     Luke  18:  9-14  (Section  6).     W^hen  are  prayers 
answered? 

6.  How  are  prayers  answered?    What  part  had  the  disciples  in 
answering  the  prayer   for  laborers,   Luke   10:    1-24    (Sections   I 
and  2).     What  part  has  a  person  in  answering  his  own  prayers? 

7.  To  what  did  the  disciples  ascribe  their  success?     Luke  10: 
17-24  (Section  2).    How  much  does  God  really  help  a  man  who 
has  a  mission  in  the  world?    How? 

8.  What  can   prayer   accomplish   apart   from   the  person   who 
prays  P1 

9.  What  help,  if  any,  can  a  man  expect  in  other  than  strictly 
"spiritual"  matters? 

10.  In  what  terms  shall  we  think  of  God  so  that  he  is  real  to 
people  when  they  pray? 

11.  How  necessary  are  regular  times  for  prayer?     How  can  a 
person  learn  to  pray? 

1  Rephrasing  of  title  of  pamphlet  on  prayer  by  Professor  E.  I.  Bosworth. 


CHAPTER  XIII 

What  Is  Our  Responsibility  in  the 
World  ? 

Jesus  Extends  the  Obligations  of  His  Followers 

Two  major  problems  face  us  in  the  world  relations:  What 
obligation  does  any  single  nation  owe  to  the  rest  of  the  world? 
How  can  the  various  peoples  live  together  in  peace  and  coopera- 
tion in  the  new  world? 

We  have  already  found  that  Jesus  refused  to  be  bound  by  the 
narrow «racial  and.  religious  prejudices  of  his  people.  What  re- 
sponsibility would  he  have  a  Christian  and  a  Christian  nation 
assume  in  the  world? 

BIBLE   REFERENCES 
Luke  10 :  25-37. 

25  Now  a  jurist  got  up  to  tempt  him.     "Teacher,"   he   said, 

26  "what  am  I  to  do  to  inherit  life  eternal?"     He  said  to  him, 
"What  is   written  in  the  law?     What  do  you   read  there?" 

27  He  replied,  "You  must  love   the  Lord  your  God  with  your 
whole    heart,    with    your    whole    soul,    with    your    whole 
strength,  and  with  your  whole  mind.     Also  your  neighbour 

28  as  yourself/'     "A  right  answer!"  said  Jesus;  "  do  that  and 

29  you   will    live"     Anxious    to    make    an    excuse    for    himself, 
however,    he    said    to    Jesus,    "But   who    is    tny   neighbour?" 

30  Jesus    rejoined,    "A    man    going    down    from    Jerusalem    to 
Jericho    fell    among    robbers    who    stripped    and    belaboured 

31  him    and    then    went    off    leaving    him    half-dead.      Now    it 
so   chanced   that   a  priest   was   going   down   the    same   road, 

32  but  on  seeing  him  he  went  past  on  the  opposite  side.     So 
did  a  Levite  who  came  to  the  spot;  he  looked  at  him  but 

33  passed  on  the  opposite  side.     However  a  Samaritan  traveller 
came   to   where   he   was    and    felt   pity   when    he    saw    him ; 

34  he    went    to    him,    bound    his    wounds    up,    pouring    oil    and 
wine    into    them,    mounted    him    on    his    own    steed,    took 

35  him  to  an  inn,  and  attended  to  him.     Next  morning  he  took 
out   a   couple   of   shillings   and  gave  them  to   the  innkeeper, 
saying,    'Attend   to   him,    and   if   you   are   put   to    any   extra 

6s 


66  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

36  expense  I  will  refund  you  on  my  way  back.'    Which  of  these 
three  men,  in  your  opinion,  proved  a  neighbour  to  the  man 

37  who  fell  among  the  robbers?"     He  said,  "The  man  who  took 
pity   on   him."     Jesus    said   to    him,    "Then   go   and    do   the 
same." 

Luke  ii :  29-32. 

29  As   the   crowds   were   thronging  to  him,   he   proceeded   to 
say, 

"This  is  an  evil  generation :  it  demands  a  Sign, 

but  no   Sign   will   be   given   to   it   except   the   Sign   of 
Jonah ; 

30  for  as  Jonah  was  a  Sign  to  the  Ninivites, 

so  shall  the  Son  of  man  be  to  this  generation. 

31  The  queen  of  the   South  will  rise  at  the  judgment  with 

the  men  of  this  generation  and  condemn  them ; 
for  she  came   from  the  ends  of  the  earth  to  listen  to 

the  wisdom  of   Solomon, 
and  here  is  One  greater  than  Solomon. 

32  The  men  of  Ninive  will  rise  at  the  judgment  with  this 

generation  and  condemn  it ; 
for. when  Jonah  preached  they  did  repent, 
and  here  is  One  greater  than  Jonah." 

Luke  13:  22-30. 

22  On  he  went,   teaching  from  one  town   and  village  to   an- 

23  other,   as   he   made  his   way  to   Jerusalem.     A   man   said   to 
him,   "Is   it   only  a   few,    sir,   who   are   saved?"     So  he   said 

24  to  them,  "Strive  to  get  in  through  the  narrow  door,  for  I  tell 

25  you    many    will    try   to    get    in    and    not    be    able,    once    the 
master  of  the  House  has  got  up  and  closed  the  door.     You 
may   stand    outside    and    knock    at   the    door,    crying,    'Lord, 
open  for  us/  but  he  will  answer  you,  'I  do  not  know  where 

26  you  come  from/     You  will  then  proceed  to  say,  'But  we  ate 
and  drank  ih  your  presence,  and  you  taught  in  our  streets !' 

27  'I  tell  you,'  he  will   say,    'I   do   not  know   where   you   come 

28  from ;  begone  every  one  of  you,  you  evildoers.'     Therev  you 
will    wail    and    gnash    your    teeth,    to    see    Abraham,    Isaac, 
Jacob   and   all   the   prophets   inside   the    Realm   of    God   and 

29  yourselves    thrown    out.      Yes,    and    people    will    come    from 
east  and  west  and   north   and   south   to   their  places   at  the 
feast  within  the  Realm  of  God. 

30  Some  are  last  who  will  be  first, 

and  some  are  first  who  will  be  last." 

Mark  7:  24-29. 

24      Leaving  there,  he  went  away  to  the  territory  of  Tyre  and 
Sidon.     He  went  into  a  house  and  wished  no  one  to  know 


OUR  RESPONSIBILITY  IN  THE  WORLD  6? 

25  of   it,  but  he   could  not  escape  notice;   a  woman  heard  of 
him,   whose  daughter   had   an   unclean   spirit,   and   she   came 

26  in  and  fell  at  his   feet    (the  woman  was  a  pagan,   of   Syro- 
phoenician   birth)    begging   him   to    cast   the    daemon   out   of 

27  her   daughter.     He  said  to  her,   "Let  the  children  be   satis- 
fied first  of  all ;  it  is  not  fair  to  take  the  children's  bread 

28  and  throw   it  to   the  dogs."     She   answered   him,    "No,   sir, 
but    under   the    table    the    dogs    do    pick    up    the    children's 

29  crumbs."    He  said  to  her,  "Well,  go  your  way;  the  daemon 
has  left  your  daughter,  since  you  have  said  that." 

Luke  4:  16-30. 

16  Then  he  came  to  Nazaret,  where  he  had  been  brought  up, 
and   on   the    sabbath  he   entered   the   synagogue   as   was   his 

17  custom.     He  stood  up  to  read  the  lesson   and  was  handed 
the  book  of  the  prophet  Isaiah ;  on  opening  the  book  he  came 
upon  the  place  where  it  was  written, 

18  The  Spirit  of  the  Lord  is  upon  me: 

for  he   has   consecrated   me   to   preach   the   gospel  to   the 

poor, 
he  has  sent  me  to  proclaim  release  for  captives 

and  recovery  of  sight  for  the  blind, 
to  set  free  the  oppressed, 

19  to  proclaim  the  Lord's  year  of  favour. 

20  Then,    folding  up   the   book,   he  handed   it  back  to   the   at- 
tendant  and   sat   down.     The   eyes   of   all  in   the   synagogue 

21  were    fixed    on    him,    and    he    proceeded    to    tell    them    that 

22  "To-day,    this    scripture    is    fulfilled    in   your    hearing."      All 
spoke    well    of    him    and    marvelled    at    the    gracious    words 
that   came    from   his   lips;    they   said,    "Is   this   not   Joseph's 

23  son?"     So  he  said  to   them,   "No  doubt  you   will  repeat  to 
me  this  proverb,  'Doctor,  cure  yourself!'     'Do  here  in  your 
own  country  all  we  have  heard  you  did  in  ^  Capharnahum.' " 

24  He   added,   "I   tell   you   truly,   no   prophet   is   ever   welcome 

25  in  his  own  native  place.     I  tell  you  for  a  fact, 

In    Israel    there    were    many   widows    during   the    days    of 

Elijah, 
when    the    sky    was    closed    for   three   years    and    six 

months, 
when  a  great  famine  came  over  all  the  land : 

26  yet  Elijah  was  not  sent  to  any  of  these, 

but  only  to  a  widow  woman  at  Zarephath  in  Sidon. 

27  And  in  Israel  there  were  many  lepers  in  the  time  of  the 

prophet  Elisha, 

yet  none  of  these  was  cleansed, 
but  only  Naaman  the  Syrian." 

28  When    they    heard    this,    all    in    the    synagogue    were    filled 


68  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

29  with   rage;    they   rose   up,    put   him    out    of   the    town,    and 
brought  him  to  the  brow   of  the  hill  on   which   their  town 

30  was  built,    in   order   to   hurl   him   down.     But   he   made   his 
way  through  them  and  went  off. 

SUGGESTIONS  FOR  PERSONAL  STUDY 

1.  Luke  10 :  25-37.    A  Jew   ^  no  responsibility  to  a  man 
of  another  jace  or  religion.     How  did  Jesus  change  this  narrow 
Jewish  notion  in  this  story? 

2.  Read  Luke  10:  27-37.     What  is  it  to  be  neighborly  accord- 
ing to  Jesus?    What  kind  of  neighborliness  is  our  nation  showing 
in  the  world? 

3.  Luke  ii :  29-32.     Notice    Jesus'    strong   condemnation    of 
the  religious  narrowness  of  the  Jews  of  his  day. 

4.  Luke  13:  22-30.     The   Jews   thought   they   had   a   corner 
of  the  Kingdom  of  God.     What  does  Jesus  mean  by  saying  that 
those  from  the  East  and  West,  from  the  North  and  South,  should 
sit  down  in  the  Kingdom  first? 

5.  Mark  7 :   24-30.     We   found  in  a  previous  chapter    (page 
46),   that   Jesus   ministered   to   the   need   of   a    foreign   woman. 
Would  you  or  would  you  not  consider  this  as  evidence  that  he 
felt  obligated  to  others  than  Jews? 

6.  Luke  4:   16-30.     Here    is    evidence    from    Jewish    history 
against  Jewish  narrowness. 

7.  Think   over    these   incidents   in   the    record    of    Jesus'   life 
as   we  have   studied  it  thus   far.     Judging  by  the   whole   spirit 
and  attitude  of  his  life,   as  well  as  by  these  specific  incidents, 
how  much  obligation  do  you  think  he  felt  to  others  than  Jews? 

QUESTIONS   FOR   GROUP   DISCUSSION 

1.  Name  countries  in  which  we  have  become  interested  as  the 
result  of  the  War ;  nationalities  and  races   for  whom  we  have 
come  to  have  greater  respect.     Compare  our  sense  of  responsi- 
bility to  the  rest  of  the  world,  before  the  War,  during  the  War, 
and  since  the  War. 

2.  What  are  the  significant  places  in  the  world  today? 

a.  What  are  the  greatest  tension  and  friction  points?     What 
are  the  outstanding  causes  of  this  tension? 

b.  In  which  countries  or  continents  is  the  question  of  democ- 
racy being  decided?    What  is  the  issue  in  each? 

c.  In   the   world    situation,   how   do   Asia,   Africa,   and    South 
America  compare  in  importance  with   North  America  and  Eu- 
rope?    What    proportion    of    the   world's    territory,    population, 
and  undeveloped  resources  are  found  in  Asia,  Africa,  and  South 
America? 


OUR  RESPONSIBILITY  IN  THE  WORLD  69 

d.  What  nations   are  the  most  significant?     Which  hold  the 
key  to  the  world  situation? 

3.  What  responsibility  should  our  country  take  in  this  world 
situation?     What  arguments  do  honest  people  give  in  favor  of 
her  confining  her  obligations  to  this  continent? 

4.  Jesus  lived  among  a  people  who   felt  no  obligation  except 
for  those  who  were  Jews.     Why  did  the  Jews   feel  they  had 
no  obligation  to  those  of  another  race  or  religion? 

5.  Consider  the  story  of  the  good  Samaritan,  Luke  10:  25-37 
(Section  i  and  2)  to  discover: 

a.  In  what  ways  Jesus   outraged  this   strictly  national  view- 
point. 

b.  How  he  widened  the  range  of  a  Jew's  obligation.    Accord- 
ing to  Jesus,  who  is  a  neighbor  ? 

c.  What  was  the  difference  between  the  neighborliness  of  the 
Levite  and  the  priest,  and  that  of  the  Samaritan?    What  is  it  to 
be  neighborly? 

6.  What  calls  for  neighborliness  are  being  made  upon  us  as  a 
nation,  and  as  individuals? 

a.  What  nations  have  need  of  us  at  this  time?    What  kind  of 
help  do  they  need? 

b.  What  disastrous  results,  if  any,  are  likely  to  come  if  our 
nation  fails  to  take  her  responsibility? 

c.  What,  if  anything,  can  we  contribute  to  the  world  at  the 
present  time,  better  than  any  other  nation? 

7.  Just  what  part  do  you  think  our  country  should  take  in  the 
present  world  situation? 

a.  Can  she  isolate  herself? 

b.  Should  she  hold  herself  aloof  from  the  .diplomatic  manipu- 
lations of  international  relations,  or  should  she  take  her  full  part 
even  at  the  risk  of  compromise? 

c.  Should  she  depend  upon  moral  persuasion  or  would  she  be 
justified  in  using  force? 

8.  What  is  our  country  doing  through  her  missionary  move- 
ments to  ^ help  the  world?     In  its   effectiveness   in   meeting  the 
present   situation,    how   does   the   missionary   program   compare 
with  government  action? 

9.  What  are  the   chief  hindrances   to  neighborliness   between 
nations?     Why  have  militarism,  treaties,  and  alliances  failed  to 
eliminate  them?    What  are  the  possibilities  of  a  League  of  Na-- 
tions,  as  a  method  of  organizing  the  world  into  a  neighborhood? 


CHAPTER  XIV 

How  Can  We  Face  Life  Without 
Worry  ? 

Jesus  Sets  Forth  the  Christian's  Confidence  in  God 

With  the  turbulent  days  which  Jesus  saw  ahead,  it  was  but 
natural  that  he  should  share  with  his  disciples  the  basis  of  his 
confidence.  Worry  about  what  will  happen  in  business  and  home 
is  ever  present  today.  In  times  of  stress,  the  days  ahead  look 
especially  pminous.^  How  does  the  Christian  differ  from  the  non- 
Christian  in  his  ability  to  face  anxiety? 

BIBLE   REFERENCES 
Luke  12:  1-12,  22-59. 

1  Meanwhile   as   the   crowd   was   gathering   in   its   thousands 
till  they   trod   on   one   another,   he   proceeded   to   say  to   his 
disciples  first  of  all,  "Be  on  your  guard  against  the  leaven 
of  the  Pharisees,  which  is  hypocrisy. 

2  Nothing  is  hidden  that  shall  not  be  revealed, 

or  concealed  that  shall  not  be  made  known. 

3  So  all  you  utter  in  the  dark  will  be  heard  in  the  light, 

and   what  you  whisper  in  chambers   will  be  proclaimed 
on  the  housetops. 

4  I  tell  you,  my  friends, 

have  no   fear  of  those  who  kill  the  body  but  after  that 
can  do  no  more; 

5  I  will  show  you  whom  to  fear — 

fear  Him  who  after  he  has  killed  has  power  to  cast  you 

into  Gehenna. 
Yes,  I  tell  you,  fear  Him. 

6  Are  not  five  sparrows  sold  for  two  farthings? 

Yet  not  one  of  them  is  forgotten  by  God. 

7  But  the  very  hairs  on  your  head  are  all  numbered ; 

fear  not,  you  are  worth  far  more  than  sparrows. 

8  I  tell  you,  whoever  acknowledges  me  before  men, 

the  Son  of  man  will  acknowledge  him  before  the  angels 
of  God; 

9  and  he  who  disowns  me  before  men 

will  be  disowned  before  the  angels  of  God. 

70 


HOW  FACE  LIFE  WITHOUT  WORRY  71 

10  Everyone  also  who  says  a  word  against  the   Son  of  man 

will  be  forgiven  for  it, 

but  he  who  blasphemes  against  the  holy  Spirit  will  never 
be  forgiven. 

11  When   they  bring  you  before   synagogues   and  the  magis- 
trates and  authorities,   do  not  trouble  yourselves  about  how 

12  to    defend   yourselves    or   what   to    say,    for    the   holy   Spirit 
will  teach  you  at  that  hour  what  you  should  say."  .    .    . 

22  To  his  disciples  he  said, 
"Therefore  I  tell  you, 

do  not  trouble  about  what  you  are  to  eat  in  life, 
nor  about  what  you  are  to  put  on  your  body, 

23  life  is  something  more  than  food, 

and  the  body  is  something  more  than  clothes. 

24  Look  at  the  crows !  they  neither  sow  nor  reap, 

no  storehouse  or  granary  have  they, 
and  yet  God  feeds  them. 
How  much  more  are  you  worth  than  birds? 

25  Which  of  you   can  add   an  ell  to  his  height  by  troubling 

about  it? 

26  and   if  you  cannot  manage  even  this,   why  trouble  over 

other   things? 

27  Look  how  the  lilies  neither  spin  nor  weave ; 

and  yet,    I  tell  you,   even    Solomon   in   all  his  grandeur 
was  never  robed  like  one  of  them. 

28  Now   if   God   so   clothes   grass   which  blooms   to-day  in   the 
field  and  is  thrown  to-morrow  into  the  furnace,  will  he  not 
much  more  clothe  you  ?     O  men,  how  little  you   trust  him ! 

20  So  do  not  seek  food  and  drink  and  be  worried;  pagans 
make  food  and  drink  their  aim  in  life,  but  your  Father 

31  knows   quite  well  you  need  that;   only  seek  his  Realm,   and 

32  it  will  be  yours  over  and  above.     Fear  not,  you  little  flock, 
for  your  Father  is  delighted  to  give  you  the  Realm. 

33  Sell  what  you  possess  and  give  it  away  in  alms, 

make  purses  for  yourselves  that  never  wear  out: 
get  treasure  in  heaven  that  never  fails, 
that  no  thief  can  get  at,  no  moth  destroy. 

34  For  where  your  treasure  lies, 

your  heart  will  lie  there  too. 

26  Keep  your  loins  girt  and  your  lamps  lit,  and  be  like  men 
who  are  expecting  their  lord  and  master  on  his  return 
from  a  marriage-banquet,  so  as  to  open  the  door  for  him 

37  at    once    when    he    comes    and    knocks.      Blessed    are    those 
servants   whom   the   lord   and   master   finds   awake   when   he 
comes !     I   teli  you  truly,   he   will  gird  himself,   make  them 
recline    at    table,     and     come     forward     to     wait    on     them. 

38  Whether  he  comes  in  the  second  or  the  third  watch  of  the 


72  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

39  night  and  finds  them  thus  alert,  blessed  are  they!     Be  sure 
that  if  the  householder  had  known  at  what  hour  the   thief 
was   coming,   he   would   not   have   allowed   his   house   to   be 

40  broken  into.     So  be  ready  yourselves,   for  the   Son  of  man 

41  is  coming  at  an  hour  you  do  not  expect."     Peter  said,  "Lord, 
are    you    telling    this    parable     for    us,     or    is    it     for     all 

42  and   sundry?"     The   Lord   said,   "Well,   where  is  the  trusty, 
thoughtful    steward    whom    the    lord    and    master    will    set 
over   his    establishment   to    give   out    supplies    at   the   proper 

43  time?     Blessed  is   that  servant  if  his  lord  and  master  finds 

44  him   so  doing  when  he  arrives !     I  tell  you  plainly,   he  will 

45  set  him  over  all  his  property.     But  if  that  servant  says  to 
himself,    'My   lord   and   master   is   long   of   arriving/   and   if 
he  starts  to  beat  the  menservants  and  maidservants,  to  eat 

46  and    drink    and   get   drunk,    that    servant's   lord    and    master 
will  arrive  on   a  day  when  he   does  not  expect  him  and  at 
an  hour  which  he  does  not  know ;  he  will  cut  him  in  two  and 
assign  him  the  fate  of  unbelievers. 

47  The  servant  who  knew  his  lord  and  master's  orders  and 

did  not  prepare  for  them, 
will  receive  many  lashes ; 

48  whereas   he   who   was   ignorant  and   did   what  deserves   a 

beating, 

will  receive  few  lashes. 
He  who  has  much  given  him 

will  have  much  required   from  him, 
and  he  who  has  much  entrusted  to  him 

will  have  all  the  more  demanded  of  him. 

49  I  have  come  to  throw  fire  on  earth. 

Would  it  were  kindled  already! 

50  I  have  a  baptism  to  undergo. 

How  I  am  distressed  till  it  is  all  over! 

51  You  think  I  am  here  to  make  peace  on  earth? 

No,  I  tell  you,  it  is  dissension. 

52  After  this  there  will  be  five  at  issue  in  one  house, 

three  divided  against  two  and  two  against  three, 

53  father  against  son  and  son  against  father, 

mother    against    daughter    and    daughter    against    mother, 
mother-in-law  against  daughter-in-law  and  daughter-in-law 
against  mother-in-law." 

54  And  to  the  crowds  he  said, 

"When  you  see  a  cloud  rise  in  the  west, 
you  say,  There  is  a  shower  coming/ 
and  so  it  is : 

55  when  you  feel  the  south  wind  blow, 

you  say,  There  will  be  heat/ 
and  so  it  is. 


HOW  FACE  LIFE  WITHOUT  WORRY  73 

56  You   hypocrites,   you  know   how   to   decipher   the   look  of 

earth  and  sky; 
how  is  it  you  cannot  decipher  the  meaning  of  this  era? 

57  And    why    do    you    not    yourselves    settle    what    is    right? 

58  Thus,  when  you  go  before  the  magistrate  with  your  oppo- 
nent, do  your  utmost  to  get  quit  of  him,  on  the  way  there, 
in  case  he  hales  you  before  the  judge;  then  the  judge  will 
hand  you  over  to  the  jailer  and  the  jailer  will  throw  you 

59  in  prison.     I  tell  you,  you  will  never  get  out  till  you  pay 
the  last  farthing  of  your  debt." 

Luke  13:  31-33. 

31  Just  then  some  Pharisees  came  up  to  tell  him,  "Get  away 

32  from   here,    for    Herod   intends   to   kill  you."     "Go   and   tell 
that    fox,"    he    replied,    "I    cast    out    daemons    and    perform 
cures  to-day  and  to-morrow,   and   on  the  third   day  I  com- 

33  plete  my  task!     But  I  must  journey  on,  to-day,  to-morrow, 
and  the  next  day;  it  would  never  do  for  a  prophet  to  perish 
except  in  Jerusalem !" 

SUGGESTIONS  FOR  PERSONAL  STUDY 

1.  Luke    12:    1-5.     Why    did    Jesus    feel    that    his    disciples 
should  not  fear  physical  death? 

2.  Luke   12:   6-12.     Does  your  experience  bear  witness  that 
God  cares? 

3.  Luke  12:  22-34.     How  can  a  man  "be  not  anxious"  about 
food  and  clothing  in  the  modern  world? 

4.  Luke  12:  35-46.     How  do  you  reconcile  this  recommenda- 
tion to  be  "on  the  job"  with  the  previous  command  not  to  trouble 
about  food  and  clothing? 

5.  Luke  12:  47,  48.    What  do  you  think  about  the  justice  of 
this? 

6.  Luke   12:  49-59.     What  about  Jesus'  cause  divides  people 
so  sharply? 

7.  Luke  13:  31-33.     Why  did  Jesus  refuse  to  heed  this  warn- 
ing of  death  ahead?    What  makes  a  man  able  to  look  death  in 
the  face? 

QUESTIONS   FOR   GROUP   DISCUSSION 

1.  What  makes   folks   worry? 

2.  Can   a    Christian    face    tomorrow    with   less    worry   than   a 
non-Christian?     Why  or  why  not? 

3.  Why  did  Jesus  feel  his  disciples  should  not  fear  the  days 
ahead?    Luke  12:  1-12  (Sections  I  and  2).    Does  your  experience 
bear  witness  to  God's  care?     If  so,  where  and  how? 


74  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

4.  Luke   12:  22-34   (Section  3).     What  is  meant  by  "Do  not 
trouble"?     What   is  the  difference,   if   any,  between  worry  and 
legitimate  foresight?    Some  folks  say:  "The  Christian  religion  is 
merely  a  drug  to  make  one  endure  bad  conditions  and  to  take 
no   thought    about   getting   ahead,    through   the   hope   of    future 
bliss."    What  do  you  think  about  it? 

5.  Can  a  man  who  "seeks  the  Realm"  count  on  all  these  other 
things    "over   and   above"?      "(Verse   31.)      Some  people  believe 
that  there  is  a  Providence  that  rules  over  individuals  and  na- 
tions  and  that  a   Christian  can  trust  God   for  the  days  ahead. 
What  is  your  experience? 

6.  To   what  extent  have  great  i.'ational  leaders   had    faith   in 
God's  providence?    How  about  Washington,  Lincoln,  Gladstone? 

7.  What  was  the  secret  of  Jesus'  confidence?     Just  what  is  it 
about  a  Christian's  trust  in  God  which  makes  him  face  tomorrow 
with  confidence? 


CHAPTER  XV 

What  Is  a  Man's  Object  in  His  Work? 

Jesus  Establishes  an  Impelling  Motive  for  Life 

For  most  men  the  object  of  their  job  or  profession  is  to  "make 
a  living"  or  to  "make  money."  Can  a  man  follow  the  ideal  of 
Jesus  and  have  the  making  of  money  or  a  living  as  his  object? 
Why  should  a  man  work  at  his  job  or  profession? 

BIBLE   REFERENCES 
Luke  12:  13-34. 

13  A  man  out  of  the  crowd  said  to  him,   "Teacher,  tell  my 

14  brother  to   give   me  my  share   of   our   inheritance" ;   but   he 
said  to  him,  "Man,  who  made  me  a  judge  or  arbitrator  over 

15  your  affairs?"     Then  he  said  to  them,  "See  and  keep  clear 
of  covetousness  in  every  shape  and  form,   for   a  man's  life 
is  not  part  of  his  possessions  because  he  has  ample  wealth." 

16  And   he   told   them   a   parable.     "A    rich   man's    estate   bore 

17  heavy  crops.     So  he  debated,   'What   am  I   to   do?     I  have 

18  no  room   to   store   my  crops/     And   he   said,    'This   is   what 
I  will  do.     I  will  pull  down  my  granaries  and  build  larger 

19  ones,  where  I  can  store  all  my  produce  and  my  goods.     And 
I  will  say  to  my  soul,  "Soul,  you  have  ample  stores  laid  up 
for  many  a  year ;  take  your  ease,  eat,  drink  and  be  merry."  ' 

20  But   God   said   to   him,    'Foolish   man,    this   very  night   your 
soul  is  wanted;   and  who   will  get  all  you   have  prepared?' 

21  So  fares  the  man  who  lays  up  treasure  for  himself  instead 

22  of   gaining   the   riches   of   God."     To   his    disciples    he   said, 
"Therefore  I  tell  you, 

do" not  trouble  about  what  you  are  to  eat  in  life, 
nor  about  what  you  are  to  put  on  your  body; 

23  life  is  something  more  than  food, 

and  the  body  is  something  more  than  clothes. 

24  Look  at  the  crows !  they  neither  sow  nor  reap, 

no   storehouse   or   granary  have  they, 

and  yet  God  feeds  them. 
How  much  more  are  you  worth  than  birds? 

25  Which  of  you  can  add  an  ell  to  his  height  by  troubling 

about  it? 

75 


76  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

26  and  if  you  cannot  manage  even  this,  why  trouble  over 

other  things? 

27  Look  how  the  lilies  neither  spin  nor  weave ; 

and  yet,   I  tell  you,   even   Solomon  in  all  his   grandeur 
was  never  robed  like  one  of  them. 

28  Now   if   God   so   clothes   grass   which  blooms  to-day   in   the 
field  and  is  thrown  to-morrow  into  the  furnace,  will  he  not 
much  more  clothe  you?     O  men,  how  little  you  trust  him! 

-Q  So    do   not   seek    food    and    drink    and   be    worried ;    pagans 
make    food    and    drink   their    aim   in    life,    but   your    Father 

31  knows  quite  well  you  need  that;   only  seek  his  Realm,   and 

32  it  will  be  yours  over  and  above.     Fear  not,  you  little  flock, 
for  your  Father  is  delighted  to  give  you  the  Realm. 

33  Sell  what  you  possess  and  give  it  away  in  alms, 

make  purses  for  yourselves  that  never  wear  out : 
get  treasure  in  heaven  that  never  fails, 
that  no  thief  can  get  at,  no  moth  destroy. 

34  For  where  your  treasure  lies, 

your  heart  will  lie  there,  too." 
Luke  18:  18-30. 

18  Then  a  ruler  asked  him,  "Good  teacher,  what  am  I  to  do 

19  to  inherit  life  eternal?"     Jesus   said  to  him,   "Why  call  me 

20  'good'  ?     No  one  is  good,  no  one  but  God.  '  You  know  the 
commands:  do  not  commit  adultery,  do  not  kill,  do  not  steal, 
do  not  bear  false  witness,  honour  your  father  and  mother." 

21  He    said,    "I    have    observed    all   these    commands    from    my 

22  youth."     When  Jesus  heard  this  he  said  to  him,  "You  lack 
one   thing   more;    sell    all   you    have,    distribute    the    money 
among  the  poor  and  you  will  have  treasure  in  heaven ;  then 

23  come    and    follow   me."     But   when   he   heard   that,    he    was 

24  vexed,   for  he  was  extremely  rich.     So  Jesus  looked  at  him 
and    said,    "How   difficult   it   is    for   those   who   have    money 

25  to  enter  the  Realm  of  God!     Why,  it  is  easier  for  a  camel 
to  get  through  a  needle's   eye  than   for   a  rich  man  to  get 

26  into  the  Realm  of  God."     His  hearers  said,  "Then  whoever 

27  can  be   saved?"     He   said,   "What  is   impossible   for  men   is 

28  possible    for    God."       Peter    said,    "Well,    we    have    left    our 

29  homes   and   followed  you!"     He   said   to   them,    "I   tell  you 
truly,  no  one  has  left  home  or  wife  or  brothers  or  parents 

30  or  children  for  the  sake  of  the  Realm  of  God,  who  does  not 
receive  ever  so  much  more  in  this  present  world,  and  in  the 
world  to  come  life  eternal." 

SUGGESTIONS  FOR  PERSONAL  STUDY 

i.  Luke    12:    13-21.     Notice    the    question    from    the    crowd 
which  caused  Jesus  to  tell  this  story  (Verse  13).    Would  people 


A  MAN'S  OBJECT  IN  HIS  WORK  77 

in  your  community  have  objected  to  this  man's  building  a  bigger 
barn?  What  was  it  in  the  way  he  handled  his  affairs  which 
made  Jesus  call  this  man  a  "foolish"  farmer? 

2.  Reread   Luke    12:    13-21,   noticing   especially  Jesus'   state- 
ment, "See  and  keep  clear  of  covetousness  in  every  shape  and 
form,  for  a  man's  life  is  not  part  of  his  possessions  because  he 
has  ample  wealth."     Give  some  modern  examples  of  covetous- 
ness.     Of  what  then  does  life  consist?     If  this  man  had  been  a 
good  church  member  and  given  liberally  to  philanthropy,  would 
it  have  been  all  right  for  him  to  have  built  this  bigger  barn? 

3.  Luke  12:  22-34.     "So  do  not  seek  food  and  drink  and  be 
worried ;  pagans  make  food  and  drink  their  aim  in  life."     How, 
if  at  all,  do  a  man's  aim  in  his  life  and  his  work  differ?    What  is 
wrong  in  making  food  and  clothing  the  object? 

4.  Luke   12:   22-34.     Jesus  says,  "Seek  first  the  Realm,  and 
all  these  things  will  be  yours  over  and  above."    How  would  you 
explain  to  a  man  in  your  town  what  Jesus  meant  here?    How  can 
a  man,  say  a  farmer  or  a  plumber,  "seek  first  the  Kingdom"? 

5.  Luke    18:    18-23.     Notice    this   young   man's    question    to 
Jesus.    If  he  had  asked  you,  "What  more  must  I  do  to  live  the 
Christ-like   life?"   what   would  you   have   told   him?     Why  did 
Jesus  insist  that  he  give  away  his  money?     What  place,  do  you 
think  Jesus  felt  money  should  have  in  a  man's  object  in  life? 

6.  Luke   18:   24-30.     What  do  you  think  of  this   statement? 
How  many  of  the  men  you  know  make  "trust  in  riches"  the  basis 
of  their  work? 

7.  Glance  over  the  week's  readings     How  would  you  answer 
the  following  questions :     Can  a  man  have  the  making  of  money 
or  a  living  as  his  object  in  his  job  or  profession  and  be  true  to 
Jesus'   ideal?      In   present-day    language,    what    would   you    say 
Jesus  asks  a  man  to  have  as  the  object  of  his  life?    Would  or 
would  not  this  apply  to  his  work?     Why? 

QUESTIONS   FOR   GROUP   DISCUSSION 

1.  As  you  think  of  clerks,  office  and  factory  employes,  manu- 
facturers and  merchants,  business  men,  lawyers,  and  others,  why 
do  these  men  work  at  their  job  or  business  or  profession? 

2.  For  what  percentage  is  the  making  of  money  or  a  living 
the   major   object;    for   what   percentage   is   service   the   major 
object? 

3.  Can  a  man  have  the  making  of  a  living  or  money  as  his 
major  object  and  be  a  Christian  according  to  Jesus'  ideal? 

4.  Let  us  see  what  ideal  was  Jesus'  as  he  put  it  up  to  people 
in  his  day: 

a.  Luke  12:   13-21    (Sections  i  and  2).     What  point  of  issue 


78  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

led  Jesus  to  tell  this  story?  Would  they  in  your  community  have 
objected  to  this  man's  building  a  bigger  barn?  What  was  it  in 
his  object  which  made  Jesus  call  him  a  ''foolish"  farmer? 

b.  Luke  12:  22-34  (Sections  3  and  4).  Notice  especially 
verses  22,  29-32.  Could  you  follow  this  suggestion  in  your  com- 
munity? If  so,  how?  If  not,  why  not?  What  does  Jesus  mean 
by  "seeking  first  the  Realm"?  If  a  business  or  professional  man 
—for  instance,  a  manufacturer,  a  lawyer,  or  a  carpenter — said 
to  you,  "I'd  like  to  try  this  in  my  work,"  how  would  you  suggest 
to  him  to  go  at  it  to  "seek  the  Realm"  in  and  through  his  work? 

5.  From  these  incidents  what  place  would  you  say  that  Jesus 
felt  the  making  of  a  living  or  the  making  of  money  should  hold 
in  a  man's  object  in  life?     Would  this   apply  also  to  a  man's 
life  work? 

6.  If  a  person  were  to  give  his  money  liberally  to  the  Church 
and  other  good  causes,  might  he  then  have  the  making  of  money 
as  his  object?     Why  or  why  not? 

7.  When   choosing  between  two   positions   offered   him,   what 
consideration  should  a  man  give  to  salary  or  income  in  making 
his  decision? 

8.  What   reasons   other  than   money  incentives   might  lead   a 
man   to   work   at  his   job   or  profession?     Could   we   count   on 
these  motives  being  strong  enough  to  keep  men  at  their  work? 
Would  they  be  sufficient  incentives  for  men  of  independent  in- 
come? 

9.  How,  if  at  all,  should  the  reason  a  minister  works  at  his 
profession   differ   from   that   of   a  business   man   or   a   lawyer? 
What  reasons  would  Jesus  give  a  man  for  working  at  his  job  or 
profession? 

10.  If  a  manufacturer  or  the  manager  of  a  store  asked  you 
how  he  could  make  the  Kingdom  of  God  the  object  of  his  busi- 
ness, what  would  you  tell  him?     Can  a  plumber,   a  painter, v a 
carpenter,  a  farmer,  or  an  industrial  employe  seek  the  Kingdom 
of  God  through  his  work?    If  so,  how?    If  not,  why  not? 


CHAPTER  XVI 

What  Shall  We  Do  on  Sunday? 

Jesus  Justifies  His  Breaking  of  the  Sabbath  Law 

The  criticism  of  Jesus,  because  he  refused  to  obey  the  Sabbath 
customs  and  laws,  continued.  Much  of  our  ordinary  observance 
of  Sunday  is  following  custom  which  has  gradually  grown  up. 
Let  us  see  if  we  can  get  from  Jesus'  attitude  on  the  Sabbath 
any  ideals  or  standards  for  Sunday  observance. 

BIBLE  REFERENCES 
Luke  13:  10-17. 

10  When  he  was  teaching  in  one  of  the  synagogues  on  the 

11  sabbath,   there   was   a   woman   who    for   eighteen   years   had 
suffered  weakness  from  an  evil  spirit;  indeed  she  was  bent 

12  double  and  quite  unable  to  raise  herself.     Jesus  noticed  her 
and    called   to    her,    "Woman,    you    are    released    from   your 

13  weakness."      He    laid    his    hands    on    her,    and    instantly    she 

14  became  erect  and  glorified   God.     But  the  president  of  the 
synagogue    was    annoyed    at    Jesus    healing    on    the    sabbath, 
and  he  said  to  the  crowd,  "There  are  six  days  for  work  to 
be   done ;   come   during  them   to   get   healed,    instead   of   on 

15  the    sabbath."     The   Lord    replied   to   him,    "You   hypocrites, 
does  not  each  of  you  untether  his  ox  or  ass  from  the  stall 

16  on    the    sabbath    and    lead    it    away    to    drink?      And    this 
woman,    a   daughter   of    Abraham,    bound   by    Satan    for    all 
these    eighteen    years,    was    she   not   to    be    freed    from   her 

17  bondage  on  the  sabbath?"    As  he  said  this,  all  his  opponents 
were  put  to  shame,  but  all  the  crowd  rejoiced  over  all  his 
splendid  doings. 

Luke  14:  1-6. 

1  Now    when    he    entered    the    house    of    a    ruler    who    be-^ 
longed    to    the    Pharisees    to    take    a    meal,    they    watched' 

2  him    closely.      In    front    of    him    there    was    a    man    who 

3  had   dropsy;   so  Jesus   asked  the  jurists   and   Pharisees,   "Is 

4  it  right  to  heal  on  the   sabbath   or   not?"     They  held  their 
peace.     Then   Jesus   took  hold   of   the   man   and   cured   him 

5  and  sent  him  off.     "Which  of  you,"  he  said  to  them,  "when 

79 


8o  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

an   ass  or  an  ox  has   fallen  into  a  well,   will  not  pull  him 
6  out  at  once  upon   the   sabbath  day?"     This  they  could   not 
dispute. 

Mark  i:  21-34.  See  page  n. 
Mark  2:  23-28.  See  page  15. 
Mark  3:  1-6.  See  page  16. 

SUGGESTIONS  FOR  PERSONAL  STUDY 

1.  Luke  13:  10-17.     The  ruler  of  the  synagogue  wanted  Jesus 
to  respect  the  Sabbath  custom  and  to  ask  the  woman  to  give 
her  name  and   address   and  see  what  he  could   do   on   a  week 
day.     If  you  were  a  minister  and  a  man  openly  broke  a  recog- 
nized Sabbath  custom  right  in  the  church  as  did  Jesus  on  this 
occasion,  would  you  be  angry?     Would  your  anger  be  justified? 

2.  Luke  13:   10-17.    Would  it  not  have  been  better  if  Jesus 
had   respected   the    Sabbath   custom   and   asked   the   woman   to 
come  back  on  some  other  day?    What  was  Jesus'  defense  of  his 
breaking  of  the  Sabbath? 

3.  Luke    14:    1-6.     Compare   this   incident  with  the   one   re- 
corded on  the  first  day.     State  Jesus/  standard  for  the  Sabbath 
so  far  as  you  find  it  in  these  two  incidents. 

4.  Read  again  the  account  of  a  typical  Sabbath  day  as  given 
in  Mark   i:   21-34    (see  Chapter  III,   Sections  3-5).    'How  did 
Jesus  spend  his  Sabbath?    How  do  we  spend  Sunday? 

5.  Read  again   Mark  2:   23-28    (see  Chapter  IV,   Section  4). 
No  great  physical  need  is  found  here.     Why  did  Jesus  defend 
his  disciples   for  breaking  the   Sabbath?     If   a  man   asked  you 
what  Jesus  meant  by  saying,  "the  sabbath  was  made  for  man  and 
not  man  for  the  sabbath,"  what  would  you  tell  him? 

6.  Read  again  Mark  3:  1-6  (see  Chapter  IV,  Section  5).     If 
to  do  good  is  the  standard  for  deciding  what  is  lawful  on  Sun- 
day, how  does  Sunday  differ  from  other  days? 

7.  Glance   again   over  these   incidents.     What  would  you   say 
was  Jesus'  standard   for  deciding  what  to  do  and  what  not  to 
do  on  the   Sabbath?     What,   if   any,   difference  in   our   present 
Sunday  standards  would  the  adoption  of  this  ideal  of  Jesus  make 
necessary? 

QUESTIONS   FOR   GROUP   DISCUSSION 

1.  What  things,  if  any,  which  you  do  on  week  days,  do  you 
feel  it  is  wrong  to  do  on  Sunday?     Why?     What  things,  if  any, 
which  you  do  on  Sunday,  do  you  not  do  on  week  days?    Why? 

2.  How  do  you  decide  what  to  do  and  what  not  to  do  on  Sun- 
day? 


WHAT  SHALL  WE  DO  ON  SUNDAY?  81 

3.  Let  us  see  what  Jesus'  attitude  was  toward  the  Sabbath  in 
his  day: 

a.  When  did  Jesus'  disciples  break  the  Sabbath?     What  was 
Jesus'  defense  of  them?     Mark  2:  23-28   (Section  5). 

b.  Under    what    circumstances    did    Jesus    break    the    Sabbath 
law  of  his  day?    What  was  his  defense?     Luke  13:  10-17;  Luke 
14:  1-6;  Mark  3:  1-6  (Sections  i,  2,  3,  and  6). 

c.  What  is  recorded  in  the  typical  Sabbath  day  as   spent  by 
Jesus?     Mark  i:  21-34   (Section  4). 

4.  Judging  by  these   incidents,   on  what  principles  would  you 
say  Jesus  decided  what  to  do  and  what  not  to  do  on  the  Sab- 
bath? 

5.  What  was  the  essential  difference  between  the  standard  of 
the  Pharisees  as  to  the  Sabbath  and  the  standard  of  Jesus?    Ac- 
cording to  Jesus,  what  is  the  purpose  of  the  Sabbath? 

6.  If  this  is  Jesus'  idea  about  the  Sabbath,  where  would  you 
draw  the  line  between  Sunday  and  other  days? 

7.  Why  has  society  by  law  forbidden  the  continuance  of  regu- 
lar work  on  Sunday?     Why  in  some  localities  have  laws  been 
passed  forbidding  Sunday  baseball,  movies,  etc.  ?     What  do  you 
think  about  such  laws? 

8.  In  what  ways  was  Sunday  observance  in  an  American  camp 
or  in  a  training  center  in  France  different  from  its  observance  in 
a  normal  community?    Why? 

9.  How   does   the   observance   differ   in   a   large   complex   city 
center  and  in  a  small  village?     In  an  industrial  community  with 
a  sixty-hour  week  and  in  a  farming  community?     Why? 

10.  In  a  "good"  Sunday,  what  proportionate  place  should  the 
following  have :  physical  rest  and  recreation,  spiritual  strength- 
ening, visiting  with  home  folks  and  friends,  and  doing  good  to 
others?     How  much  work  and  how  much  recreation  would  you 
justify? 

11.  What  is  the  reason  for  Sunday  school,  public  worship,  and 
other  religious  services  on  Sunday?    How  many  should  a  person 
attend  ? 

12.  Give  the  principal  happenings  in  what  you  would  call  an 
ideal  Sunday. 


CHAPTER  XVII 

What  Determines  the  Value  of  a  Man  ? 

Jesus  Shows  His  Estimate  of  People 

There  is  much  discussion  at  present  in  regard  to  the  basis 
upon  which  men  and  women  should  be  paid  in  business  and 
industrial  life.  "As  little  as  they  can  be  secured  for,"  some 
say.  Then  labor  organizes  to  secure  as  much  as  possible.  Others 
say,  "What  they  earn."  Still  ^others  hold  that  they  should  be 
paid  in  proportion  to  their  living  costs,  so  that  each  will  have 
enough  income  to  make  life  wholesome  and  that  this  shall  be 
guaranteed  to  every  person  willing  to  work. 

As  Christians  we  are  interested  in  the  basis  on  which  Jesus 
determined  the  value  of  people. 

BIBLE   REFERENCES 
Luke  15:  1-32. 

1  Now    the    taxgatherers    and    sinners    were    all    approach- 

2  ing    him    to    listen    to    him,     but    the     Pharisees    and    the 
scribes    complained,    "He    welcomes    sinners    and    eats    along 

~  with  them !"  So  he  told  them  this  parable,  "Which  of 
you  with  a  hundred  sheep,  if  he  loses  one,  does  not  leave 
the  ninety-nine  in  the  desert  and  go  after  the  lost  one  till 

5  he  finds  it?     When  he  finds  it  he  puts  it  on  his   shoulders 

6  with  joy,  and  when  he  gets  home  he  gathers  his  friends  and 
neighbours:  'Rejoice  with  me/  he  says  to  them,  'for  I  h^ve 

7  found  the   sheep   I   lost.'     So,   I   tell  you,   there   will  be   joy 
in    heaven    over    a    single    sinner    who    repents,    more    than 

8  over  ninety-nine  good  people  who  do  not  need  to  repent.     Or 
again,  suppose  a  woman  has  ten  shillings.     If  she  loses  one 
of   them,    does    she   not   light   a   lamp    and    scour    the    house 

9  and  search  carefully  till  she  finds  it?     And  when  she  finds 
it    she    gathers    her    women-friends    and    neighbours,    saying, 

10  'Rejoice  with  me,  for  I  have  found  the  shilling  I  lost.'     So, 
I  tell  you,  there  is  joy  in  the  presence  of  the  angels  of  God 
over  a  single  sinner  who  repents." 

11  He    also    said:      "There    was    a   man    who    had    two    sons, 

12  and    the   younger    said   to    his    father,    'Father,    give    me   the 
share  of  the  property  that  falls  to  me.'     So  he  divided  his 

82 


WHAT  DETERMINES  VALUE  OF  A  MAN?       '  83 

13  means  among  them.     Not  many  days  later,  the  younger  son 
sold    off    everything    and    went    abroad    to    a    distant    land, 

14  where   he   squandered   his   means   in   loose   living.     After   he 
had   spent   his   all,   a   severe    famine    set   in   throughout   that 

15  land,  and  he  began  to  feel  in  want;  so  he  went  and  attached 
himself  to  a  citizen  of  that  land,  who  sent  him  to  his  fields 

16  to   feed  swine.     And  he   was   fain  to  fill  his  belly  with  the 
pods    the    swine    were    eating;    no    one    gave    him    anything. 

17  But  when  he  came  to  his  senses  he  said,   'How  many  hired 
men    of    my    father    have    more    than    enough    to    eat,    and 

18  here  am  I  perishing  of  hunger !     I  will  be  up  and  off  to  my 
father,    and    I    will    say    to    him,    "Father,    I    have    sinned 

19  against  heaven  and  before  you ;  I  don't  deserve  to  be  called 
your   son  any  more ;   only  make  me  like  one  of  your   hired 

20  men." '      So    he    got   up    and    went    off    to    his    father.      But 
when   he   was   still    far    away   his    father   saw   him    and    felt 
pity   for  him  and  ran  to   fall  upon   his  neck  and  kiss  him. 

21  The  son  said  to  him,  'Father,  I  have  sinned  against  heaven 
and  before  you ;   I  don't  deserve  to  be  called  your  son  any 

22  more.'     But   the    father   said   to    his    servants,    'Quick,   bring 
the  best  robe   and  put  it  on   him,   give  him   a  ring   for  his 

23  hand   and    sandals    for   his    feet,    and   bring   the    fatted   calf, 

24  kill  it,  and  let  us  eat  and  be  merry;   for  my  son  here  was 
dead  and  he  has  come  to  life,  he  was  lost  and  he  is  found.' 

25  So  they  began  to  make  merry.     Now  his  elder  son  was  out 
in  the  field,  and  as  he  came  near  the  house  he  heard  music 

26  and  dancing ;   so,   summoning  one  of  the  servants,  he  asked 

27  what    this    meant.      The    servant    told    him,    'Your    brother 
has    arrived,    and    your    father    has    killed    the    fatted    calf 

28  because  he  has  got  him  back  safe  and  sound.'     This  angered 
him,    and   he   would   not   go    in.     His    father   came   out   and 

29  tried  to  appease  him,  but  he  replied,  'Look  at  all  the  years 
I   have  been   serving  you !     I  have  never   neglected   any   of 
your    orders,    and   yet   you    have   never   given    me    so    much 

30  as   a  kid,   to  let  me  make   merry  with   my   friends.     But   as 
soon  as  this  son  of  yours  arrives,  after  having  wasted  your 

31  means  with  harlots,  you  kill  the  fatted  calf   for  him !'     The 
father  said  to  him,  'My  son,  you  and  I  are  always  together, 

32  all   I   have   is   yours.     We   could   not   but   make   merry   and 
rejoice,    for  your   brother   here   was   dead   and   has   come   to 
life  again,  he  was  lost  but  he  has  been  found.' " 

Luke  16:  19-31. 

19  "There  was  a  rich  man,  clad  in  purple  and  fine  linen,  who 

20  lived   sumptuously  every  day.     Outside  his   door  lay  a  poor 

21  man  called  Lazarus ;  he  was  a  mass  of  ulcers,  and.  fain  to 
eat  up  the  crumbs  that  fell  from  the  rich  man's  table.     (The 


84  HOW  IESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

22  very  dogs  used  to  come  and  lick  his  ulcers.)      Now  it  hap- 
pened that  the  poor  man   died,   and  he   was   carried  by  the 
angels  to  Abraham's  bosom.    The  rich  man  died  too,  and  was 

23  buried.     And  .as  he  was  being  tortured  in  Hades  he  raised 
his   eyes   and   saw   Abraham   far   away  with   Lazarus   in   his 

24  bosom ;  so  he  called  out,  'Father  Abraham,  take  pity  on  me, 
send  Lazarus  to  dip  his  fingertip  in  water  and  cool  my  tongue, 

25  for  I   am  in   anguish  in  these  flames.'     But  Abraham   said, 
'Remember,    my   son,   you  got  all  the   bliss   when   you   were 
alive,  just  as  Lazarus  got  the  ills  of  life;  he  is  in  comfort 

26  now  and  you  are  in  anguish.     Besides  all  that,  a  great  gulf 
yawns   between   us   and  you,   to  keep   back  those   who   want 
to   cross   from  us  to  you   and  also  those  who  want  to  pass 

27  from  you  to  us/     Then  he  said,  'Well,  father,  I  beg  you  to 

28  send  him  to  my  father's  house,  for  I  have  five  brothers ;  let 
him   bear   testimony   to   them,    that   they   may   not    come    to 

29  this  place  of  torture  as  well/    'They  have  got  Moses  and  the 

30  prophets/    said    Abraham,    'they    can    listen    to    them/      'No, 
father  Abraham/  he  said,  'but  if  someone  only  goes  to  them 

31  from  the  dead,  they  will  repent/     He  said  to  him,   'If  they 
will  not  listen  to  Moses  and  the  prophets,  they  will  not  be 
convinced,  not  even  if  one  rose  from  the  dead/" 

Luke  17:  1-6,  11-19. 

1  To  his  disciples  he  said,   "It  is  inevitable  that  hindrances 
should   come,    but   woe   to   the    man  •  by   whom   they    come ; 

2  it    would     be    well    for    him    to    have    a    millstone     hung 
round  his  neck  and  be  flung  into  the  sea,  rather  than  prove 

3  a    hindrance    to    one    of    these    little    ones !      Take    heed    to 
yourselves.     If    your    brother    sins,    check    him,    and    if    he 

4  repents    forgive    him.      Even    if    he    sins    against   you    seven 
times   in   one   day  and   turns   to  you   seven   times   saying,    'I 

5  repent/  you  must   forgive  him."     The   apostles   said   to   the 

6  Lord,   "Give  us  more  faith !"     The   Lord   said,   "If  you  had 
faith   the   size   of   a  grain   of   mustard-seed,   you   would    say 
to    this    mulberry    tree,    'Be    uprooted    and    planted    in    the 
sea/  and  it  would  obey  you."     .     . 

11  Now   it  happened   in   the   course   of   his   journey   to   Jeru- 

12  salem    that    he    passed    between    Samaria    and    Galilee.      On 
entering  one  village  he  was  met  by  ten  lepers  who  stoad  at 

13  a  distance  and  lifted  up  their  voice,  saying,   "Jesus,  master, 

14  have   pity   on   us."     Noticing  them  he   said,    "Go   and   show 
yourselves    to    the   priests"     And   as    they   went    away   they 

15  were  cleansed.     Now  one  of  them  turned  back  when  he  saw 

16  he  was  cured,  glorifying  God  with  a  loud  voice;  and  he  fell 
on  his  face  at  the  feet  of  Jesus  and  thanked  him.     The  man 

17  was   a    Samaritan.     So   Jesus    said,    "Were    all   the   ten   not 


WHAT  DETERMINES  VALUE  OF  A  MAN?         85 

18  cleansed?    Where  are  the  other  nine?      Was  there  no  one  to 
return  and  give  glory  to  God  except  this  foreigner?"    And 

19  he  said  to  him,   "Get  up  and  go,  your  faith  has  made  you 
well." 

Matt.  20:  1-16. 

1  "For    the    Realm    of    heaven    is    like    a    householder    who 
went    out    early    in    the    morning    to    hire    labourers     for 

2  his  vineyard;  and  after  agreeing  with  the  labourers  to  pay 
them    a    shilling    a    day    he    sent    them    into    his    vineyard. 

3  Then,   on  going  out   at  nine  o'clock  he  noticed   some   other 

4  labourers    standing    in    the    marketplace    doing    nothing;    to 
them  he  said,  'You  go  into  the  vineyard  too,  and  I  will  give 

5  you  whatever  wage  is   fair.'     So  they  went  in.     Going  out 
again    at    twelve    o'clock    and    at   three    o'clock,    he    did    the 

6  same  thing.     And  when  he  went  out  at  five  o'clock  he  came 
upon    some    others    who    were    standing;    he    said    to    them, 

7  'Why  have  you  stood  doing  nothing  all  the  day?'     'Because 
nobody  hired   us,'   they   said.     He  told   them,    'You   go   into 

8  the    vineyard    too/      Now    when    evening    came    the    master 
of   the   vineyard   said  to  his  bailiff,    'Summon  the  labourers 
and    pay    them    their    wages,    beginning    with    the    last    and 

9  going   on   to   the    first.'     When    those    who    had   been   hired 

10  about  five  o'clock  came,  they  got  a  shilling  each.     So  when 
the    first    labourers    came    up,    the}'    supposed    they    would 

11  get   more;    but   they   too   got    each   their    shilling.      And    on 

12  getting  it  they  grumbled  at   the   householder.     'These   last,' 
they   said,    'have   only   worked   a   single   hour,    and   yet   you 
have   ranked   them   equal   to   us   who   have   borne   the   brunt 

13  of  the  day's  work  and  the  heat!'     Then  he  replied  to  one 
of  them,   'My  man,   I  am   not  wronging  you.     Did  you  not 

14  agree  with   me   for  a  shilling?     Take  what  belongs  to  you 
and  be  off.     I  choose  to  give  this  last  man  the  same  as  you. 

15  Can  I  not  do  as  I  please  with  what  belongs  to  me?     Have 

16  you   a  grudge  because   I   am  generous?'     So   shall   the   last 
be  first  and  the  first  last." 

Matt.  25:  31-46. 

31  "When  the   Son   of   m?n   comes   in  his   glory  and   all  the 
angels  with  him,  then  he  will  sit  on  the  throne  of  his  glory, 

32  and   all  nations   will  be  gathered  in   front   of   him;   he   will 
separate   them   one    from   another,   as   a   shepherd    separates 

33  the    sheep    from   the   goats,    setting   the   sheep    on    his    right 

34  hand  and  the  goats  on  his  left.     Then   shall  the   King  say 
to    those    on    his    right,    'Come,   you    whom    my   Father    has 
blessed,    come   into  your   inheritance   in   the   realm   prepared 
for  you  from  the  foundation  of  the  world. 


86  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

35  For  I  was  hungry  and  you  fed  me, 

I  was  thirsty  and  you  gave  me  drink, 
I  was  a  stranger  and  you  entertained  me, 

36  I  was  unclothed  and  you  clothed  me, 
I  was  ill  and  you  looked  after  me, 

I  was  in  prison  and  you  visited  me/ 

37  Then  the  just  will  answer, 

'Lord,    when    did    we    see   you    hungry    and    fed    you?    or 
thirsty  and  gave  you  drink? 

38  when  did  we  see  you  a  stranger  and  entertain  you?   or 

unclothed  and  clothed  you? 

39  when  did  we  see  you  ill  or  in  prison  and  visit  you?' 

40  The  King  will  answer  them,   'I  tell  you  truly,   in   so   far  as 
you  did  it  to  one  of  these  brothers  of  mine,  even  to  the  least 

41  of  them,  you  did  it  to  me/     Then  he  will  say  to  those  on 
the  left,  'Begone  from  me,  you  accursed  ones,  to  the  eternal 
fire  which  has  been  prepared  for  the  devil  and  his  angels ! 

42  For  I  was  hungry  but  you  never  fed  me, 

I  was  thirsty  but  you  never  gave  me  drink, 

43  I  was  a  stranger  but  you  never  entertained  me, 

I  was  unclothed  but  you  never  clothed  me, 
I  was  ill  and  in  prison  but  you  never  looked  after  me.' 

44  Then   they  will   answer   too,    'Lord,    when    did   we   ever    see 
you  hungry  or  thirsty  or  ?,  stranger  or  unclothed   or  ill  or 

45  in  prison,  and  did  not  minister  to  you?'     Then  he  will   an- 
sw-er  them,  'I  tell  you  truly,  in  so  far  as  you  did  not  do  it 
to  one  of  these,  even  the  least  of  them,  you  did  not  do  it  to 
me.' 

46  So  they  shall  depart  to  eternal  punishment, 
and  the  just  to  eternal  life." 

SUGGESTIONS  FOR  PERSONAL  STUDY 

1.  Luke  15:  i-io.     Notice  that  Jesus  told  these  three  stories 
about  the  lost  sheep,  the  lost  coin,  and  the  lost  son  in  answer 
to  criticism  of  him   for  associating  with  outcaste  people.      (See 
verse  I.)     Why  should  there  be  more  rejoicing  over  a  man  who 
came  back,  than  over  ninety  and  nine  righteous  persons?     Do 
we  really  believe  that  "a  man  may  be  down,   but  he  is   never 
out"? 

2.  Luke  15:  11-32.     On  what  basis  did  the  father  decide  the 
worth  of  his  two  boys?     What  do  you  think  of  the  complaint 
of  the  older  brother?    Judging  from  these  three  stories,  on  what 
basis  would  you  say  Jesus  determined  his  estimate  of  people? 

3.  Luke   16:   19-31.     What  was  it  in  the  rich  man's  attitude 
toward  the  beggar  which  made  him  unfit  for  heaven? 

4.  Luke   17:    1-6.     It  is   claimed  that  a  great  proportion   of 


WHAT  DETERMINES  VALUE  OF  A  MAN?          87 

criminals  have  been  caused  to  go  wrong  and  could  have  been 
saved  if  the  "causes  of  stumbling"  had  been  removed.  What 
do  you  think  of  Jesus'  condemnation  of  the  persons  who 
cause  others  to  go  wrong?  Would  this  apply  to  employers  who 
pay  less  than  a  living  wage  and  make  it  hard  for  girls  to  live 
decent  and  pure  lives? 

5.  Luke  17:  11-19.     This  is  but  one  of  many  incidents  where 
Jesus   responded  to   the   appeal  of   the   sick  and  needy.     What 
does  this  show  as  to  his  estirhate  of  the  value  of  people? 

6.  Matt.  20:  1-16.     Notice  the  substitution  of  human  need  for 
utilitarian  value  in  the  pay  of  laborers.     Compare  the  basis  on 
which  a  foreman  determines  the  value  of  a  workman  in  the  shop. 
Some  people  say  society  should  be  placed  on  the  basis  indicated 
in  this  parable :  a  living  income  guaranteed  to  every  one  willing 
to  work.    What  do  you  think  ? 

7.  Matt.  25:  31-46.     What  hint  does  this  incident  give  as  to 
the  comparative  value  of  people? 

QUESTIONS   FOR   GROUP   DISCUSSION 

1.  How  does  the  foreman  or  superintendent  of  a  factory  or  the 
manager  of  a  department  store  determine  the  value  of  an  em- 
ploye?    On  what  basis  are  men  and  women  valued  in  modern 
industrial  and  business  concerns? 

2.  How  far  does  this  basis  of  estimating  the  worth  of  a  per- 
son hold  good  in  other  parts  of  modern  life?     What,   if  any, 
other  factors  enter  in? 

3.  According  to  the  ordinary  standard  of  modern  life,   what 
determines  the  value  of  a  person? 

4.  Let  us  see  what  Jesus'  basis  was  for  estimating  the  value 
of  people : 

a.  What  made  him  tell  the  stories  of  the  lost  sheep,  the  lost 
coin,  and  the  lost  son?    Luke  15:  1-32  (Sections  I  and  2).    What 
point  does  Jesus  make  in  these  stories  as  to  his  feeling  toward 
outcaste  and  disreputable  people?     On  what  basis  did  he  decide 
their  value? 

b.  How  much   attention   did   Jesus   give  to   the   sick   and   the 
needy?     What  does  this  show  as  to  his  basis  for  deciding  the 
value  of  people? 

c.  In  Jesus'  story  of  the  laborers  in  the  vineyard,   Matt.  20: 
1-16  (Section  7),  on  what  basis  were  the  laborers  paid?     Why 
did  those  who  worked  the  longer  time  object?     Was  their  ob- 
jection well  grounded? 

5.  Judging  by  these  incidents,  what  would  you  say  was  Jesus' 
basis    for   deciding  the   value   of   people? 


88  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

6.  To  what  extent  are  men  and  women  in  industrial  and  busi- 
ness concerns  paid  on  their  ability  to  produce  returns   for  the 
concern;  to  what  extent  on  Jesus'  basis? 

7.  List  the  evidences  in  modern  life  that  folks  are  considered 
supremely  valuable.    List  the  evidences  that  they  are  valued  on 
the  same  basis  as  machinery. 

8.  Is  the  tendency  of  modern  life  toward  a  lower  or  a  higher 
valuation  of  the  individual?     What  makes  you  think  so? 

9.  Some  folks  say  that  the  basis  given  in  the  parable  of  the 
laborers,  either  work  or  a  living  wage  guaranteed  to  every  person 
willing  to  work,  should  be  the  basis  of  modern  life.     What  do 
you  think? 

10.  What  changes  are  necessary  in  industrial  and  business  con- 
cerns  if   men   and   women   are   to   be   valued   on   Jesus'   basis? 
Could  a  business  concern  be  made  to  pay  on  this  basis? 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

What  Makes  a  Person  a  Success  ? 

Jesus  Shows  His  Basis  for  True  Leadership 

Despite  Jesus'  repeated  statement,  the  disciples  persisted  in 
their  confident  belief  that  when  he  reached  the  capital  he  would 
start  a  new  kingdom,  and  they  were  interested  in  who  would 
have  the  prominent  positions  in  that  kingdom.  The  question 
came  up  several  times  on  the  way  to  Jerusalem.  Let  us  read 
these  incidents,  together  with  some  other  material  which  throws 
light  on  Jesus'  idea  of  who  should  have  the  places  of  responsi- 
bility and  leadership. 

BIBLE  REFERENCES 
Mark  9:  33-50.     See  page  55. 
Mark  10:  32-45.  .  jt 

32  They  were   on   the   way   up   to  Jerusalem,--  Jesus   walking 
in    front   of    them :    the   disciples    were    in    dismay   and    the 
company  who  followed  were  afraid.     So  once  again  he  took 
the    twelve    aside    and    proceeded    to    tell    them    what  was . 

33  going   to   happen   to   himself.     "We   are   going   up   to   Jeru- 
salem," he   said,   "and  the  Son  of  man  will  be  betrayed  to 
the    high    priests    and    scribes ;    they    will    sentence    him    to 

34  death   and   hand   him   over   to   the   Gentiles,    who   will   mock 
him,    spit   on   him,    scourge   him,    and   kill   him;    then   after 
three  days  he  will  rise  again." 

35  James  and  John,  the  sons  of  Zebedaeus,  came  up  to  him 
saying,    "Teacher,    we    want    you    to    do    whatever    we    ask 

36  you."     So  he  said,  "What  do  you  want  me  to  do  for  you?" 

37  They  said  to  him,    "Give  us   seats,   one   at  your   right  hand 

38  and  one  at  your  left  hand,  in  your  glory."    Jesus  said,  "You 
do  not  know  what  you  are  asking.     Can  you  drink  the  cup 
I  have  to  drink,  or  undergo  the  baptism   I  have  to  under- 

39  go?"    They  said  to  him,  "We  can."     Jesus  said,  "You  shall 
drink   the    cup    I    have    to    drink    and    undergo    the   baptism 

40  I  have  to  undergo;  but  it  is  not  for  me  to  grant  seats  at 
my   right   or   my   left    hand — these   belong   to    the    men    for 

41  whom  they  have  been  destined."     Now  when  the  ten  heard 

89 


90  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

42  of  this,  they  burst  into  anger  at  James  and  John;  so  Jesus 
called  them  and  said, 

"You  know  the  so-called  rulers  of  the  Gentiles  lord  it  over 

them, 
and  their  great  men  overbear  them: 

43  not  so  with  you. 

Whoever    wants    to   be   great    among   you    must    be   your 
servant, 

44  and  whoever  of  you  wants  to  be  first  must  be  your  slave ; 

45  for  the   Son  of  man  himself  has  not  come  to  be  served 

but  to  serve, 
and  to  give  his  life  as  a  ransom  for  many." 

Luke  14:  7-11. 

7  He    also    told    a    parable    to    the    guests,    when    he    ob- 

8  served  how  they  picked  out  the  best   places.     "When   any- 
one invites  you  to  a  marriage-banquet,"  he  said,   "never  lie. 
down  in  the  best  place,  in  case  a  more  distinguished  guest 

9  than  yourself  has  been  invited;   then  the  host  will  tell  you, 
'Make    room    for   him/    and   you    will   proceed    in    shame   to 

jo  take  the  lowest  place.  No,  when  you  are  invited,  go  and 
recline  in  the  lowest  place,  so  that  when  your  host  comes 
in  he  will  tell  you,  'Move  higher  u-p,  my  friend/  Then  you 
will  be  honoured  before  your  fellow  guests. 

II       For  everyone  who  uplifts  himself  will  be  humbled, 
and  he  who  humbles  himself  will  be  uplifted." 

SUGGESTIONS  FOR  PERSONAL  STUDY 

!„  Read  again  Mark  9:  33-50.  This  is  the  first  record  of  the 
discussion  among  the  disciples  about  the  best  places  in  the  new 
kingdom.  Remember  this  came  just  after  Jesus  had  told  them 
what  his  followers  must  suffer.  Why  did  they  misunderstand 
him?  Who  does  Jesus  here  say  will  be  great? 

2.  Mark  10:  32-34.     Notice  the  fear  of  the  disciples.     Jesus 
again  tells  them  what  will  happen  in  Jerusalem. 

3.  Mark  10:  35-40.     Evidently,  James  and  John  still  did  not 
understand.    They  came  around  and  tried  to  get  Jesus  to  promise 
them  the  two  best  jobs — Secretary  of  State  and  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury  perhaps — in   his   new   kingdom.     What   harm,   if  any, 
was  there  in  James  and  John  trying  to  get  an  "inside  pull"  on 
these  two  best  positions? 

4.  Mark  10:  40-45.     What  is  Jesus'  idea  of  the  way  to  obtain 
high  rank?    How  true  is  this  to  modern  life — to  the  granting  of 
political  positions,  in  your  town  for  example? 

5.  On   one   occasion   during  his   journey  to  Jerusalem,   Jesus 
attended  a  banquet  and  he  noticed  those  invited  scrambling  to 


WHAT  MAKES  A  PERSON  A  SUCCESS?  91 

get  the  best  places.  Then  he  told  a  story.  Read  it,  Luke  14:  7- 
ii.  Why  should  a  man  not  seek  the  best  place?  What  is  the 
difference  between  seeking  a  place  and  seeking  to  be  worthy  of 
it? 

6.  What  do  you  think  of  Jesus'  statement  in  Luke  14:   11? 
How  true  is  this  to  modern  life?     In  a  business  concern,  can  a 
man  count  on  being  promoted  if  he  keeps  quiet  and  works  on 
the  job? 

7.  Glance  over  the  week's  readings  and  write  in  a  sentence 
what  you  consider  Jesus'  idea  of  who  would  be  a  success.     How 
is  this   like  and  how   different   from  the  current  idea  of  what 
makes  a  person  get  ahead  in  business  and  political  life? 

QUESTIONS   FOR   GROUP   DISCUSSION 

1.  Who  are  the  leading  men  in  your  town?    Why  do  you  cafl 
them  the  most  prominent  ?    What  makes  a  man  considered  prom- 
inent and  successful  in  your  town? 

2.  When  this  question  came  up  in  Jesus'  group,  how  did  he 
meet  it? 

a.  Why  were  the  disciples  worried  as  to  who  should  have  the 
best  places? 

b.  Mark   10:   35-45    (Sections  3   and  4).     On  what  basis  did 
James  and  John  expect  to  get  these  best  places?     What  harm, 
if  any,  was  there  in  this  attempt  to  get  an  "inside  pull"?    What 
was  Jesus'  idea  of  who  should  have  the  most  responsible  posts? 

c.  Luke  14:  7-11    (Sections  5  and  6).     Why  did  Jesus  object 
to  the  guests'  scrambling  for  the  best  places?     In  your  observa- 
tion does  Jesus'  idea  in  verse  n  work  out  in  modern  life? 

3.  What  would  you  say  was  Jesus'  idea  as  to  who  should  get 
ahead  or  make  a  success? 

4.  To   what   extent   does  the  average  big  man   in  your  town 
measure  up  to  Jesus'  idea?     Test  the  men  in  politics,  business, 
and  religious  and  other  work. 

5.  In  what  professions  and  lines  of  work  today  must  a  man 
be  a  real  servant  if  he  would  occupy  a  place  of  responsibility; 
in  what  can  he  get  by  and  look  out  for  Number  One? 

6.  To  what  extent  are  political  positions  due  to  "inside  pull"; 
to  what  extent  are  they  the  reward  of  public  service? 

7.  In   business   firms   you   know,    can   a   man   count   on   being- 
promoted  if  he  keeps  quiet  and  works  on  the  job?    What  is  the 
basis  for  your  answer? 

8.  Do  you  think  a  chance  to  serve  would  satisfy  the  capable 
men  in  your  town  and  bring  out  their  best?     Why  or  why  not? 


92  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

9.  Does  Jesus  in  these  incidents  discourage  honest  ambitions? 
Por  example,  how  would  you  suggest  to  a  man   in  a  business 
concern  that  he  go  at  it  to  get  a  promotion?     How  far  has  a 
man  a  right  to  seek  a  position  or  promotion?     Should  a  min- 
ister seek  a  position  or  must  he  wait  for  a  call?    Why? 

10.  To  what  extent  does  being  a  success   mean   "bossing  the 
job"  and  to  what  extent  willingness  to  work  harder  and  take 
more  responsibility  than  the  rest? 


CHAPTER  XIX 

Who  Is  a  Hypocrite  ? 

Jesus'  Indignation  Blazes  Forth  against  Graft  and 
Hypocrisy 

Any  person  who  has  the  idea  that  Jesus  was  a  mild,  anemic 
person  should  read,  with  an  understanding  of  the  situation,  this 
week's  record  of  the  fearless,  scathing  invective  of  Jesus.  Why 
are  Christians  so  complacent  today  in  the  face  of  wrong  hiding 
itself  behind  religion?  Who  are  the  hypocrites  in  modern  life? 

BIBLE   REFERENCES 

Mark  n:  i-io,  15-18,  27-33. 

1  Now    when    they    came    near    Jerusalem,    near    Bethphage 
and    Bethany,    at    the    Hill    of    Olives,    he    despatched    two 

2  of     his     disciples,     saying     to     them,     "Go     to     the     village 
in   front  of  you.     As   soon  as  you  enter  it  you  will   find  a 
colt   tethered,    on   which   no    one   has    ever    sat;    untether    it 

3  and  bring  it  here.     If  anyone  asks  you,  'Why  are  you  doing 
that?'    say,    The   Lord   needs    it,    and   he   will    send   it   back 

4  immediately.'"      Off    they   went    and    found    a    colt   tethered 

5  outside  a  door  in  the  street.     They  untethered  it;  but  some 
of  the  bystanders  said  to  them,  "What  do  you  mean  by  un- 

6  tethering  that   colt?"     So  they  answered   as  Jesus   had  told 

7  them,  and  the  men  allowed  them  to  go.     Then  they  brought 
the  colt  to  Jesus,   and  when   they  had  put  their  clothes   on 

8  it    Jesus    seated    himself.      Many    also    spread    their    clothes 
on    the    road,    while    others    strewed    leaves    cut    from    the 

9  fields ;    and    both    those    in    front    and    those    who    followed 
shouted, 

"Hosanna! 

Blessed  be  he  who  comes  in  the  Lord's  name! 
10      Blessed  be  the  Reign  to   come,   our   father  David's  reign. 
Hosanna  in  high  heaven !"     .     .     . 

15  Then    they   came   to    Jerusalem,    and    entering   the   temple 
he  proceeded  to  drive  out  those  who  were  buying  and  sell-, 
ing   inside   the   temple;   he   upset  the   tables   of    the    money- 

16  changers  and  the  stalls  of  those  who  sold  doves,  and  would 

93 


94  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

not    allow    anyone    to    carry    a    vessel    through    the    temple; 

17  also   he  taught   them.     "Is    it  not   written,"   he   asked,    "My 
house   shall   be    called   a   house    of  prayer   for   all   nations? 

18  You  have  made  it  a  den  of  robbers/'    This  came  to  the  ears 
of  the  scribes  and  high  priests,   and  they  tried  to  get  him 
put  to  death,  for  they  were  afraid  of  him.   .    .    . 

27  Once    more    they   came    to    Jerusalem.      And    as    he    was 
walking  within  the  temple  the  high  priests  and  scribes   and 

28  elders  came  and  asked  him,  "What  authority  have  you   for 
acting    in    this    way?      Who    gave    you     authority    to     act 

29  in  this  way?"     Jesus  said  to  them,  "I  am  going  to  ask  you 
a  question.     Answer  this,  and  I   will  tell  you  what  author- 

30  ity    I   have    for   acting   as    I   do.     What    about    the   baptism 

31  of  John?     Was  it  from  heaven  or  from  men?"     Now  they 

32  argued  to  themselves,  "[What  are  we  to  say?]     If  we  say, 
'From  heaven/  he  will  ask,  Then  why  did  you  not  believe 
him?'     No,  let  us  say,  'From  men' " — but  they  were   afraid 
of  the  multitude,  for  the  people  all  held  John  had  been  really 

33  a  prophet.     So   they  replied   to   Jesus,    "We   do    not  know/ 
Jesus  said  to  them,  "No  more  will  I  tell  you  what  author- 
ity I  have  for  acting  as  I  do." 

Mark  12:  1-37. 

1  Then    he    proceeded    to    address    them    in    parables.   "A 
man    planted    a    vineyard,    fenced    it    round,    dug    a    trough 
for  the  winepress,  and  built  a  tower;   then  he  leased   it   to 

2  vinedressers    and    went    abroad.      When    the    season    came 
round  he  sent  a  servant  to  the  vinedressers  to  collect  from 

3  the  vinedressers   some  of   the  produce   of  the   vineyard,  but 
they  took  and  flogged  him  and  sent  him   off  with  nothing. 

4  Once     more     he     sent     them     another     servant;     him     they 

5  knocked   on   the   head   and   insulted.     He    sent   another,    but 
they  killed  him.     And   so   they  treated   many   others ;    some 

6  they  flogged  and   some   they  killed.     He   had    still   one   left, 
a    beloved    son;    he    sent    him    to    them    last,    saying,    They 

7  will  respect  my  son/     But  these  vinedressers   said   to  them- 
selves,  'Here  is  the  heir ;  come  on,  let  us  kill  him,  and  the 

8  inheritance  will  be  our  own/     So  they  took  and  killed  him, 

9  and   threw   him   outside   the   vineyard.      Now   what   will   the 
owner  of  the  vineyard  do?     He  will  come  and  destroy  the 
vinedressers,    and    he    will    give    the    vineyard    to    others. 

jo  Have   you   not   even   read   this    scripture?— 

The  stone  that  the  builders  rejected  is  the  chief  stone  now  of 
the    corner: 

11  this  is  the  doing  of  the  Lord, 

and  a  wonder  to  our  eyes." 

12  Then  they  tried  to  get  hold  of  him,  but  they  were   afraid 


WHO  IS  A  HYPOCRITE?  95 

of  the  multitude.     They  knew  he  had  meant  the  parable  for 
them. 

13  So  they  left  him  and  went  away.     But  they  sent  some  of 
the    Pharisees    and    Herodians    to    him    for    the    purpose    of 

14  catching  him  with  a  question.     They  came   up   and   said  to 
him,   "Teacher,  we  know  you  are  sincere  and   fearless ;  you 
do    not    court   human    favour,    you    teach    the    Way   of    God 

15  honestly.     Is  it  right  to  pay  taxes  to   Caesar  or  not?     Are 
we  to  pay,  or  are  we  not  to  pay?"     But  he  saw  their  trick 
and   said  to   them,    "Why   tempt  me?     Bring  me   a   shilling. 

16  Let   me   see   it."     So   they  brought   one.     He   said,    "Whose 
likeness,    whose   inscription   is   this?"    "Caesar's,"    they   said. 

17  Jesus   said  to  them,   "Give   Caesar   what  belongs   to   Caesar, 
give  God  what  belongs  to  God."     He  astonished  them. 

18  Sadducees,    men    who   hold    there   is   no    resurrection,    also 

19  came  up  and  put  a  question  to  him.     "Teacher,"  they  said, 
"Moses  has  written  this  law  for  us,"  that  if  a  man's  brother 
dies   leaving    a   wife    but    no    child,    his   brother   is    to    take 

20  the  woman  and  raise  offspring  for  his  brother.     Now  there 
were    seven    brothers.     The    first    married    a    wife    and    died 

21  leaving  no  offspring:  the  second  took  her  and  died  without 

22  leaving  any  offspring :   so  did  the  third :  none  of  the   seven 

23  left  any  offspring.     Last  of  all  the  woman  died  too.     At  the 
resurrection,  when   they  rise,  whose  wife  will  she  be?     She 

24  was   wife  to  the   seven   of  them."     Jesus    said   to   them,   "Is 
this  not  where  you  go  wrong? — you  understand  neither  the 

25  scriptures  nor  the  power  of   God.     When  people  rise   from 
the    dead    they    neither    marry    nor    are    married,    they    are 

26  like   the   angels   in   heaven.     As    for   the    dead   being   raised, 
have  you  not  read  in  the  book  of  Moses,  at  the  passage  on 
the  Bush,  how  God  said  to  him,  I  am  the  God  of  Abraham 

27  and  the  God  of  Isaac  and  the  God  of  Jacob?    He  is  not  the 
God  of  dead  people  but  of  living.     You  are  far  wrong." 

28  Then  a  scribe  came  up,  who  had  listened  to  the  discussion. 
Knowing  Jesus  had  given  them  an  apt  answer,  he  put  this 
question  to  him,  "What  is  the  chief  of  all  the  commands?" 

29  Jesus  replied,  "The  chief  one  is :     Hear,  O  Israel,  the  Lord 

30  our  God  is  one  Lord,  and  you  must  love  the  Lord  your  God 
with   your   ^vhole    heart,   with   your  whole   soul,    with   your 

31  whole  mind,  and  with  your  whole  strength.     The   second  is 
this :  You  must  love  your  neighbour  as  yourself.    There  is  no 

32  other  command  greater  than  these."     The  scribe  said  to  him, 
"Right,  teacher !     You  have  truly  said,  He  is  One,  and  there 

33  is   none   else   but   Him.     Also,   to   love   him   with   the   whole 
heart,    with    the    whole    understanding,    and    with    the    whole 
strength,  and  to  love  one's  neighbour  as  oneself — that  is  far 

34  more  than  all  holocausts  and  sacrifices."    Jesus  noted  his  in- 


96  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

telligent  answer  and  said  to  him,  "You  are  not  far  off  the 
Realm  of  God"  After  that  no  one  ventured  to  put  any 
more  questions  to  him. 

35  And   as  Jesus   taught  in   the  temple  he   asked,   "How   can 

36  the  scribes  say  that  the  Christ  is  David's  son?     David  him- 
self said  in  the  holy  Spirit, 

The  Lord  said  to  my  Lord,  'Sit  at  my  right  hand, 
till  I  make  your  enemies  a  footstool  for  your  feet' 

37  David  here  calls  him  Lord.     Then  how  can  he  be  his  son?" 
Now  the  mass   of  the  people  listened  with  delight  to  him. 

Matt.  23:  1-33. 

1  Then    Jesus    spoke    fo    the    crowds    and    to    his    disciples. 

2  "The    scribes    and   Pharisees    sit    on    the    seat    of    Moses; 

3  so  do  whatever  they  tell  you,  obey  them,  but  do  not  do  as 

4  they   do.     They  talk   but   they  do   not  act.     They   make   up 
heavy  loads  and  lay  them  on  men's  shoulders  but  they  will 

5  not   stir  a  finger  to  remove  them.     Besides,    all  they  do   is 
done  to   catch  the  notice   of   men ;   they  make  their  phylac- 

6  teries  broad,  they  wear  large  tassels,  they  are   fond   of  the 
best   places    at   banquets    and    the    front    seats    in    the    syna- 

7  gogues ;   they  like  to  be  saluted  in  the  marketplaces  and  to 
be  called  'rabbi'  by  men. 

8  But  you  are  not  to  be  called  'rabbi/ 

for  One  is  your  teacher,  and  you  are  all  brothers; 

9  you  are  not  to  call  anyone  'father'  on  earth. 

for  One  is  your  heavenly  Father; 

10  nor  must  you  be  called  'leaders/ 

for  One  is  your  leader,  even  the  Christ. 

11  He  who  is  greatest  among  you  must  be  your  servant. 

12  Whoever  uplifts  himself  will  be  humbled, 

and  whoever  humbles  himself  will  be  uplifted. 

13  Woe  to  you,  you  impious  scribes  and  Pharisees  1 

you  shut  the  Realm  of  heaven  in  men's  faces; 
you  neither  enter  yourselves, 

nor  will  you  let  those  enter   who   are   on  the  point  of 
entering. 

15  Woe  to  you,  you  impious  scribes  and  Pharisees ! 

you  traverse  sea  and  land  to  make  a  single  proselyte, 
a.nd  when  you  suceed  you  make  him  a  son  of  Gehenna 
twice  as  bad  as  yourselves. 

16  Woe  to  you,  blind  guides  that  you  are! 

you  say,  'Swear  by  the  sanctuary,  and  it  means  nothing; 
but   swear   by  the  gold   of  the   sanctuary,   and   the   oath 
is  binding.' 

17  You  are  senseless  and  blind!   for  which  is  the  greater, 
the  gold  or  the  sanctuary  that  makes  the  gold  sacred? 


WHO  IS  A  HYPOCRITE?  97 

18  You  say  again,  'Swear  by  the  altar,  and  it  means  noth- 

ing; 
but  swear  by  the  gift  upon  it,  and  the  oath  is  binding.' 

19  You  are  blind !  for  which  is  the  greater, 

the  gift  or  the  altar  that  makes  the  gift  sacred? 

20  He  who  swears  by  the  altar 

swears  by  it  and  by  all  that  lies  on  it; 

21  he  who  swears  by  the  sanctuary 

swears  by  it  and  by  Him  who  inhabits  it ; 

22  he  who  swears  by  heaven 

swears  by  the  throne  of   God  and  by  Him  who   sits 
upon  it. 

23  Woe  to  you,  you  'impious  scribes  and  Pharisees  ! 

you  tithe  mint  and  dill  and  cummin, 
and  omit  the  weightier  matters  of  the  law, 
justice  and  mercy  and  faithfulness; 

these  latter  you  ought  to  have  practised — without  omit- 
ting the   former. 

24  Blind  guides  that  you  are, 

filtering"  away  the  gnat  and  swallowing  the  camel  I 

25  Woe  to  you,  you  irreligious  scribes  and  Pharisees! 

you  clean  the  outside  of  the  cup  and  the  plate, 

but    inside    they    are    filled    with    your    rapacity    and 
self-indulgence. 

26  Blind  Pharisee !  first  clean  the  inside  of  the  cup, 

so  that  the  outside   may  be  clean  as   well. 

27  Woe  to  you,  you  irreligious  scribes  and  Pharisees ! 

you  are  like  tombs  white-washed ; 
they  look  comely  on  the  outside, 

but  inside  they  are  full  of  dead  men's  bones  and  all 
manner  of  impurity. 

28  So  to  men  you  seem  just, 

but  inside  you  are  full  of  hypocrisy  and  iniquity. 

29  Woe  to  you,  you  irreligious   scribes  and  Pharisees !     You 
build  tombs  for  the  prophets  and  decorate  the  tombs  of  the 

30  just,  and  you  say  'If  we  had  been  living  in  the  days  of  our 
fathers,    we    would   not   have   joined    them    in    shedding   the 

31  blood  of  the  prophets.'     So  you  are  witnesses  against  your- 
selves, that  you  are  sons  of  those  who  killed  the  prophets ! 

32  And  you   will   fill   up   the   measure   that  your    fathers   filled. 

33  You    serpents !    you    brood    of    vipers !    how    can   you   escape 
being  sentenced  to  Gehenna?" 

SUGGESTIONS  FOR  PERSONAL  STUDY 

i.  Mark    n:    i-io.     Jesus    in    this    public    procession    chose, 
from  the  varied  Old  Testament  prophecies  concerning  the  Mes- 


98  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

siah,  to  follow  the  idea  of  humility  and  lowliness   (Zech.  9:  9). 
What  was  the  reason  for  this? 

2.  Mark  u:  15-18.     Here  the  priests  were  engaged  in  a  bit 
of  graft,  which  robbed  the  people  in  their  most  sacred  religious 
practices.    Why  do  you  think  Jesus  used  such  radical  measures? 
How   much   courage    did   it  take?'   What   new   group   lined   up 
against  him  as  the  result  of  his  drastic  action? 

3.  Mark  n:  27-33;   12:   1-12.     The  chief  priests  and  scribes 
are  here  seeking  to  get  evidence  against  him.     What  wrongs  in 
the  religious  leaders  of  his  day  is  Jesus  attacking? 

4.  Mark  12:  13-37.     The  Herodians  had  wanted  Jesus  to  lead 
a  military  revolution,  and  yet  here  they  tried  to  get   evidence 
against  him  as  a  "Red."    Note  the  skill  of  Jesus'  reply.     It  must 
have  chafed  them  to  admit  that  their  money  bore  Csesar's  image 
and  that  they  were  a  subject  people.    What  was  the  issue  in  the 
question  of  the  Sadducees  and  in  that  of  the  scribe?     What  was 
the  point  of  Jesus'  reply  in  each  case? 

5.  Matt.  23:  1-33.     Read  this  rapidly.     As  you  read,  imagine 
yourself  in  the  audience  in  the  capital  city,  Jerusalem,  with  the 
leading   church    members    and    most    respectable "  people    of    the 
capital  present.    Can  you  imagine  a  man  having  courage  to  do  it 
in  Washington,   on  the   steps  of  the  capitol  building,   with  the 
leading    Congressmen    in    the    crowd? 

6.  Reread  this  invective  in  more  detail.     Matt.  23:  1-13 — "for 
they  say  and  do  not."     Who  are  the  religious  ''bluffers"?     Why 
will  a  man  who  "bluffs"  have  his  "bluff"  called? 

7.  Matt.  23:  14-33.     Have  you  known  a  person  who  was  very 
careful   about   church   attendance   and    Sunday   observance,    and 
who  gave  liberally  to  good  causes,  but  who  was  unwilling  to  give 
his  employes  justice? 

QUESTIONS   FOR   GROUP   DISCUSSION 

1.  What  was  it  about  the  chief  priests   and   the   scribes   and 
Pharisees  which  brought  out  Jesus'  attack?    What  were  the  chief 
points  in  Jesus'  invective?    Mark  u  :  15-18,  27-33;  Mark  i2:vi-37; 
Matt.  23:  1-33  (Sections  2-7). 

2.  If  a  man  today  were  to  attack  corresponding  groups,  against 
whom  would  he  speak?     What  would  he  find  wrong? 

a.  What  evidences  do  you  find  today  of  men  willing  to  make 
graft   out   of    religion?      How    about   the    student    who    attends 
church  for  a  "stand  in,"  or  the  business  man  who  joins  a  church 
because  it  will  give  him  standing  with  some  of  the  leading  citi- 
zens? 

b.  Among  what  groups  today  have  you  found  people  willing  to 
attend  church  regularly,  but  unwilling  to  pay  living  wages,  grant 


WHO  IS  A  HYPOCRITE?  99 

justice  to  employes,  or  help  remove  race  oppression?    Who  are 
the  Pharisees  today? 

c.  Where  would  you  class  a  nation  that  professed  great  in- 
terest in  justice  and  a  fair  chance  for  smaller  nations,  and 
then  grabbed  for  all  it  could  get  in  the  Peace  Conference?  What 
are  the  Pharisee  nations? 

3.  How  much  courage  did  it  take   for  Jesus  to  attack  these 
chief   religious   leaders   and   citizens   at   the   capital   city?     Why 
did  Jesus  use  such  radical  measures  against  the  temple  grafters, 
and  against  the  scribes  and  Pharisees? 

4.  How   far  should  we  go  today  in  our  attack  upon  wrong? 
Is  the  neutrality  of  the  Church  on  current  issues  justified? 

5.  How  do   men   succeed  in  making  the  impression  of  being 
righteous  and  just  when  they  are  not?     If  they  happen  to  be 
leading  citizens  or  have  plenty  of   money,   can  they   "get  by"? 
Why,  or  why  not? 

6.  Who  is  the  Pharisee  or  hypocrite  today?     Why  is  a  hypo- 
crite looked  upon  with  so  much  contempt?     How  does  hypoc- 
risy in  religion  differ  from  hypocrisy  in  politics  or  business? 


CHAPTER  XX 

How  Can  We  Meet  Times  of  Supreme 
Testing? 

Jesus  Faces  Trial  and  Death 

We  have  lived  with  Jesus  through  various  experiences  of  his 
brief  career.  Here  we  have  the  record  of  the  supreme  struggle 
of  his  life. 

BIBLE   REFERENCES 
Luke  9:  51-55. 

51  As  the  time  for  his  assumption  was  now  due,  he  set  his 

52  face    for    the   journey   to   Jerusalem.      He    sent    messengers 
in  front  of  him.     They  went  and  entered  a  Samaritan  vil- 

53  lage  to  make  preparations  for  him,  but  the  people  would  not 
receive  him  because  his  face  was  turned  in  the  direction  of 

54  Jerusalem.      So    when    the    disciples    James    and    John    saw 
this,  they  said,  "Lord,  will  you  have  us  bid  fire  come  down 

55  from   heaven   and    consume    them?"       But   he    turned    and 
checked  them. 

Mark  14:  1-52. 

1  The  passover   and   the    festival   of   unleavened   bread    fell 
two    days    later;     so    the    high    priests    and    scribes    were 
trying  how  to  get  hold  of  him  by  craft  and  have  him  put 

2  to  death.     "Only,"  they  said,  "it  must  not  be  during  the  fes- 
tival ;  that  would  mean  a  popular  riot" 

3  Now  when  he  was  at  Bethany  in  the  house  of  Simon  ^the 
leper,   lying  at   table,   a   woman   came   up   with   an   alabaster 
flask  of  pure  nard   perfume,   which  had   cost   a   great   sum ; 
the  flask  she  broke  and  poured  the  perfume  over  his  head. 

4  This   angered   some   of   those  present.     "What   was   the   use 

5  of    wasting   perfume   like    this?     This   perfume    might   have 
been    sold    for   over    three   hundred    shillings,    and    the    poor 

6  might  have  got   that."     So  they  upbraided   her.     But  Jesus 
said,  "Let  her  alone.     Why  are  you  annoying  her?     She  has 

7  done  a  beautiful  thing  to  me.    The  poor  you  always  have  be- 

side you,  and  you  can  be  kind  to  them  whenever  you  want ; 

8  but  you   will  not  always   have  me.     She   has   done   all   she 

100 


TIMES  OF  SUPREME  TESTING  101 

could — she   has   anticipated   the   perfuming   of   my  body   for 
9  burial.     I  tell  you  truly,  wherever  the  gospel  is  preached  all 
over   the   world,    men   will   speak  of    what   she   has   done   in 
memory  of  her." 

10  Then  Judas  Iscariot,  one  of  the  twelve,  went  to  the  high 

11  priests  to  betray  him  to  them.     They  were  delighted  to  hear 
it,  and  promised  to  pay  him  for  it.     Meantime  he  sought  a 
good  opportunity  for  betraying  him. 

12  On  the  first  day  of  unleavened  bread   (the  day  when  the 
paschal    lamb    was    sacrificed)     his    disciples    said    to    him, 
"Where  do  you  want  us  to  go  and  prepare  for  you  to  eat 

13  the  passover?"     So  he  despatched  two  of  his  disciples,  tell- 
ing them,  "Go  into  the  city  and  you  will  meet  a  man  carry- 

14  ing  a  water-jar;   follow   him,   and  whatever   house   he   goes 
into,   tell  the   owner  that  the   Teacher   says,    'Where   is   my 
room,  that  I  may  eat  the  passover  there  with  my  disciples?' 

15  He    will    show    you    a    large    room    upstairs,    with    couches 
spread,    all    ready;    prepare    the    passover     for    us    there." 

16  The  disciples  went  away  into  the  city  and  found  it  was  as 

17  he  had  told  them.     So  they  prepared  the  passover,  and  when 

18  evening  fell  he  arrived  along  with  the  twelve.     As  they  were 
at  table  eating,  Jesus  said,  "Truly  I  tell  you,  one  of  you  is 

19  going  to  betray  me,  one  who  is  eating  with  me."     They  got 
distressed    at    this,    and    said    to    him    one    after    another, 

20  "Surely  it  is  not  me?"     "Surely  it  is  not  me?"     "One  of  the 
twelve,"   he  told   them,   "one  who  is   dipping  into  the   same 

21  dish   as    I    am.      The    Son   of    man    goes    the    road    that   the 
scripture    has    described    for   him,    but    woe    to   the    man    by 
whom   the   Son  of  man   is  betrayed!     Better  that  man  had 

22  never  been  born !"     And  as  they  were  eating  he  took  a  loaf 
and  after  the  blessing  he  broke  and  gave  it  to  them,  saying, 

23  "Take  this,   it  means   my  body."     He   also  took   a   cup   and 
after  thanking  God  he  gave  it  to  them,  and  they  all  drank 

24  of    it;    he    said    to    them,    "This    means    my    covenant-blood 

25  which  is  shed  for  many;  truly  I  tell  you,  I  will  never  drink 
the  produce  of  the   vine   again  till  the  day  I   drink  it  new 
within  the  Realm  of  God." 

26  After  the  hymn  of  praise  they  went  out  to   the   Hill   of 

27  Olives.     Jesus  said  to  them,  "You  will  all  be   disconcerted, 
for  it  is  written :  /  will  strike  at  the  shepherd  and  the  sheep 

28  will  be  scattered.     But  after  my  rising  I  will  precede  you  to 

29  Galilee."     Peter  said  to   him,   "Though  all  are   disconcerted, 

30  I  will  not  be."     Jesus  said  to  him,   "I  tell  you  truly,  to-day 
you  will  disown  me  three  times,  this  very  night,  before  the 

31  cock   crows   twice."     But  he   persisted,    "Though   I   have   to 
die  with  you,  I  will  never  disown  you."     And  they  all  said 
the  same. 


HOW  JESUS  MEJ   LIFE  QUESTIONS 

32  Then    they   came    to    a    place    called    Gethsemane,    and    he 

33  told  his  disciples,  "Sit  here  till  I  pray."     But  he  took  Peter 
and  James  and  John  along  with   him ;  and  as   he   began   to 

34  feel   appalled   and   agitated,   he   said  to   them,   "My   heart  is 

35  sad,   sad    even   to    death ;    stay   here    and    watch."     Then    he 
went  forward  a  little  and  fell  to  the  earth,  praying  that  the 

36  hour    might    pass    away     from    him,     if    possible.      "Abba> 
Father,"  he  said,  "Thou  canst  do   anything.     Take  this  cup 
away  from  me.     Yet,  not  what  I  will  but  what  thou  wilt." 

37  Then  he  came  and  found  them  asleep;  so  he  said  to  Peter, 
"Are   you    sleeping,    Simon?     Could   you    not   watch    for    a 

38  single  hour?     Watch  and  pray,  all  of  you,  so  that  you  may 
not  slip  into  temptation.     The   spirit   is   eager  but   the  flesh 

39  is    weak."     Again   he   went   away   and   prayed    in    the    same 

40  words   as   before;   then    he   returned   and    found   them   once 
more  asleep,  for  their  eyes  were  heavy.     They  did  not  know 

41  what  to  say  to  him.     Then  he  came  for  the  third  time  and 
said  to  them,  "Still  asleep?  still  resting?     No  more  of  that! 
The  hour  has  come,  here  is  the   Son  of  man  betrayed  into 

42  the  hands  of   sinners.     Come,  get   up,   here   is   my   betrayer 
close  at  hand." 

43  At   that    very   moment,    while   he    was    still    speaking,    Judas 
[Iscariot]  one  of  the  twelve  came  up  accompanied  by  a  mob 
with  swords  and  clubs  who  had  come  from  the  high  priests 

44  and   scribes  and  elders.     Now  his  betrayer  had  given  them 
a  signal ;  he  said,  "Whoever  I  kiss,  that  is  the  man.     Seize 
him  and  get  him  safely  away."    So  when  he  arrived  he  at  once 

45  went  up  to  him  and  said,  "Rabbi    [rabbi],"  and  kissed  him. 

46  Then   they  laid  hands   on  him  and   seized   him,   but   one   of 

47  the   bystanders   drew   his    sword   and    struck   the   servant   of 
the  high  priest,  cutting  off  his  ear.     Jesus  turned  on  them, 

48  saying,   "Have  you   sallied   out  to   arrest   me   like   a   robber, 
with  swords  and  clubs?     Day  after  day  I  was  beside  you  in 

49  the  temple  teaching,  and  you  never  seized  me.     However,  it 
is  to  let  the  scriptures  be  fulfilled." 

50  Then  they  left  him  and  fled,  all  of  them;  one  young  man 

51  did    follow  him,   with   only  a  linen   sheet  thrown   round v  his 

52  body,  but  when  the   [young]    men  seized  him  he  fled  away 
naked,  leaving  the  sheet  behind  him. 

Luke  22:  54-71. 

54  Then    they    arrested    him    and    led    him    away    inside    the 
house  of  the  high  priest.     Peter  followed  at  a  distance  and 

55  sat   down   among   some    people   who    had    lit    a    fire    in    the 

56  courtyard    and   were   sitting   round   it.     A   maidservant   who 
noticed  him  sitting  by  the  fire  took  a  long  look  at  him  and 

57  said,   "That   fellow   was   with   him  too."     But   he   disowned 


TIMES  OF  SUPREME  TESTING  103 

58  him,  saying,  "Woman,  I  know  nothing  about  him."     Shortly 
afterwards   another  man   noticed  him   and   said,   "Why,   you 

59  are  one  of  them !"     "Man,"  said  Peter,   "I  am  not."     About 
an    hour    had    passed    when    another    man    insisted,    "That 
fellow    really    was    with    him.      Why,    he    is    a    Galilean !" 

60  "Man,"   said   Peter,   "I   do  not  knew   what  you   mean."     In- 

6 1  stantly,    just    as    he    was    speaking,    the    cock    crowed;    the 
Lord    turned    round    and    looked    at    Peter,    and    then    Peter 
remembered  what  the  Lord  had  told  him,  that  'Before  cock- 

62  crow  to-day  you  will  disown  me  three  times.'     And  he  went 
outside  and  wept  bitterly. 

63  Meantime  the  men  who  had  Jesus  in  custody  flogged  him 

64  and    made    fun    of    him;    blindfolding    him    they    would    ask 

65  him,   "Prophesy,   tell  us   who   struck  you?"     And   many  an- 
other  insult   they  uttered   against  him. 

66  When   day  broke,   the   elders   of   the  people  all   met  along 
with    the    high    priests    and    scribes,    and    had    him    brought 

67  before  their  Sanhedrio.     They  said  to  him,  "Tell  us  if  you 
are   the    Christ."     He    said   to   them,    "You   will   not   believe 

68  me  if  I  tell  you,  and  you  will  not  answer  me   when   I  put 

69  a  question  to  you.     But  after  this  the  Son   of  man  will  be 

70  seated  at  God's  right  hand  of  power."     "Are  you  the  Son  of 
God  then?"  they  all   said.     "Certainly,"   he   replied,   "I  am." 

71  So  they  said,  "What  more  evidence  do  we  need?     We  have 
heard  it  from  his  own  lips." 

Luke  23:  1-25. 

1  Then    the    whole    body    of    them    rose    and    led    him    to 

2  Pilate.       They     proceeded     to     accuse     him,     saying,     "We 
have    discovered    this    fellow    perverting    our    nation,     for- 
bidding tribute  being  paid  to  Caesar,  and  alleging  he  is  king 

3  messiah."      Pilate    asked    him,    "Are    you    the    king    of    the 

4  Jews?"     He    replied,    "Certainly."     And    Pilate    said    to    the 
high  priests   and   the  crowds,   "I   cannot   find   anything  crim- 

5  inal  about  him."     But  they  insisted,  "He  stirs  up  the  people 
by  teaching  all  over  Judaea.     He   started   from   Galilee   and 

6  now  he  is  here."     When  Pilate  heard  that,  he  asked  if  the 

7  man   was   a   Galilean,   and   ascertaining  that   he   came   under 
the  jurisdiction  of  Herod,  he   remitted  him  to   Herod,   who 

8  himself   was    in  Jerusalem    during  those    days.     Herod    was 
greatly  delighted  to  see  Jesus ;  he  had  long  wanted   to   see 
him,    because    he    had    heard    about    him    and    also    because 

9  he   hoped   to    see   him   perform   some   miracle.      But   though 
he  put  many  questions   to  him,   Jesus   gave  him  no   answer. 

10  Meanwhile   the  high   priests   and   scribes   stood   and   accused 

11  him    with    might    and    main.      Then    Herod    and    his    troops 
scoffed   at   him   and   made   fun   of   him,   and   after   arraying 


104  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

12  him  in  a  bright  robe  he  remitted  him  to  Pilate.     Herod  and 
Pilate,  became  friends  that  day — previously  they  had  been  at 
enmity. 

13  Then    summoning    the    high    priests    and    rulers    and    the 

14  people,   Pilate   said  to  them,   "You  brought  me  this  man   as 
being    an    inciter    to    rebellion    among    the    people.      I    have 
examined  him  before  you  and  found  nothing  criminal  about 

15  him,     for     all     your     accusations     against     him.       No,     nor 
has    Herod,     for    he    has    remitted    him    to    us.      He    has 

16  done    nothing,    you    see,    that    calls    for    death;    so    I    shall 

18  release    him    with    a     whipping."      But    they    shouted    one 
and   all,    "Away   with   him!       Release    Bar-Abbas     for    us!" 

19  (This  was  a  man  who  had  been  put  into  prison  on  account 
of  a  riot  which  had  taken  place  in  the  city  and  also  on  a 

20  charge   of   murder.)      Again   Pilate   addressed   them,    for   he 

21  wanted   to    release    Jesus,    but    they   roared,    "To    the    cross, 

22  to  the  cross  with  him !"     He  asked  them  a  third  time,  "But 
what  crime  has  he  committed?     I  have  found  nothing  about 
him    that    deserves    death ;    so    I    shall    release    him    with    a 

23  whipping."      But    they    loudly   urged    their    demand    that    he 
should    be    crucified,     and    their     shouts     carried    the     day. 

24  Pilate   gave   sentence   that   their   demand   was   to   be   carried 

25  out;    he   released   the  man   they   wanted,    the   man    who   had 
been  imprisoned  for  riot  and  murder,  and  Jesus  he  handed 
over  to  their  will. 

Mark  15:  16-47. 

16  The  soldiers  took  him  inside  the   courtyard    (that  is,  the 

17  praetorium)    and   got   all   the   regiment   together;    then    they 
dressed  him  in  purple,  put  on  his  head  a  crown  of   thorns 

18  which    they    had    plaited,    and    began    to    salute    him    with, 

19  "Hail,  O  king  of  the  Jews !"     They  struck  him  on  the  head 
with   a   stick   and    spat   upon    him   and   bent    their   knees    to 

20  him    in    homage.       Then,    after    making    fun    of    him,    they 
stripped   off   the   purple,   put   on   his   own   clothes,    and   took 

21  him  away  to  crucify  him.     They   forced   Simon  a   Cyrehian 
who  was  passing  on  his  way  from  the  country   (the   father 

22  of  Alexander  and  Rufus)    to  carry  his  cross,   and  they  led 
him  to  the  place  called  Golgotha   (which  means  the  place  of 

23  a    skull).      They    offered    him    wine    flavoured    with    myrrh, 

24  but  he  would  not  take  it.     Then  they  crucified  him  and  dis- 
tributed   his    clothes    among    themselves,    drawing    lots  for 

25  them  to  decide  each  man's  share.     It  was  nine  in  the  morn- 

26  ing   when   they   crucified   him.     The   inscription   bearing   his 
charge  was : 

THE    KING    OF    THE    JEWS. 

27  They  also  crucified  two  robbers  along  with  him,  one  at  his 


TIMES  OF  SUPREME  TESTING  105 

29  right  and  one  at  his  left.     Those  who  passed  by  scoffed  at 
him,   nodding   at    him    in    derision    and    calling,    "Ha  1      You 
were    to    destroy    the    temple    and    build    it    in    three    days  I 

30  Come   down    from   the   cross   and    save   yourself !"     So,   too, 

31  the   high   priests   made    fun   of   him   to   themselves   with   the 
scribes ;    "he   saved  others,"  they  said,   "but  he   cannot   save 

32  himself !     Let   'the  Christ/  'the  king  of   Israel'   come   down 
now  from  the  cross !     Let  us  see  that  and  we  will  believe  1" 
Those  who  were  crucified  with  him  also  denounced  him. 

33  When    twelve    o'clock   came,    darkness    covered   the    whole 

34  land  till  three  o'clock,  and  at  three  o'clock  Jesus  gave  a  loud 
cry,    "Eldi,    Eldi,    lema    sabachthanei"     (which    means,    My 

35  God,   my  God,    why  hast  thou   forsaken   me?)      On   hearing 
this   some  of  the  bystanders   said,   "Look,   he   is  calling  for 

36  Elijah."     One  man  ran  off,  soaked  a  sponge  in  vinegar,  and 
put  it  on  the  end  of  a  stick  to  give  him  a  drink,  saying,  "Come 

37  on,  let  us  see  if  Elijah  does  come  to  take  him  down!"     But 

38  Jesus    gave    a   loud    cry   and    expired.     And   the   curtain   of 

39  the  temple  was  torn  in  two,  from  top  to  bottom.     Now  when 
the  army-captain  who  stood  facing  him  saw  that  he  expired 
in  this  way,  he  said,  "This  man  was  certainly  a  son  of  God." 

40  There  were  some  women  also  watching  at  a  distance,  among 
them    Mary    of    Magdala,    Mary   the    mother    of    James    the 

41  younger   and   of   Joses,    and    Salome,    women   who   had    fol- 
lowed him  when  he  was  in  Galilee  and   waited  on  him,  be- 
sides a  number  of  other  women  who  had  accompanied  him 
to  Jerusalem. 

42  By   this   time   it   was   evening,    and   as   it   was   the   day  of 

43  Preparation    (that    is,    the    day   before   the    sabbath)    Joseph 
of   Arimathaea,   a   councillor   of   good   position   who   himself 
was  on  the  outlook  for  the  Reign  of  God,  ventured  to  go  to 

44  Pilate  and  ask  for  the  body  of  Jesus.     Pilate  was  surprised 
that   he   was    dead    already;    he   summoned    the    captain    and 

45  asked  if  he  had  been  dead   some  time,   and  on  ascertaining 
this    from   the   captain   he  bestowed   the   corpse   on   Joseph. 

46  He,  after  buying  a  linen  sheet,  took  him  down  and  swathed 
him  in  the  linen,  laying  him  in  a  tomb  which  had  been  cut 
out  of  the  rock  and  rolling  a  boulder  up  against  the  opening 

47  of  the  tomb.     Now  Mary  of  Magdala  and  Mary  the  mother 
of  Joses  noted  where  he  was  laid. 

SUGGESTIONS  FOR  PERSONAL  STUDY 
i.  Luke  9:  51-55.  Read  again  the  record  of  Jesus'  decision 
to  go  up  to  Jerusalem.  How  much  courage  did  it  take  for  Jesus 
deliberately  to  go  up  to  the  capital,  the  headquarters  of  those 
who  were  plotting  his  death?  Why  did  he  decide  to  face  it  out 
in  the  capital  city? 


io6  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

2.  Mark  14:   1-21.     Why  were  the  chief  priests  and  scribes 
afraid   of   a   popular  uprising   if   they  arrested  Jesus   publicly? 
What  qualities  in  Judas  made  Jesus  feel  he  could  not  be  counted 
upon  when  the  crisis  came?     What  makes  a  man  a  traitor? 

3.  Mark    14:    22-31.     Why   did   the    disciples   feel   sure   they 
would  not  desert  him  when  danger  came? 

4.  Mark  14:  32-42.     What  was  the  issue  here?     Compare  it 
with  the  one  in  the  wilderness  crisis,  and  at  Caesarea  Philippi 
(Chapters  II  and  XI).     Remember  that  Jesus  was   facing  tor- 
ture on  a  cross,  and  the  seeming  end  of  his  life  in  disgrace  and 
failure.     Why    did    the    religious    leaders    of    his    day   plot    his 
death?     How  could  he  have  avoided  death  even  at  this  time? 
Why  did  he  refuse  to  yield? 

5.  What  did  Jesus  accomplish  for  his  cause  by  facing  it  put 
heroically  with  his  enemies   in  Jerusalem  rather  than   avoiding 
a  sharp  issue?     Read  Mark  14:  43-52,  trying  to  live  into  this 
experience. 

6.  Luke  22:  54-71;  23:  1-25.     Read  the  passage  rapidly,  not- 
ing Jesus'  poise  and  bearing.     Remember  he  was  being  tried  in 
an  Oriental  country,  in  an  ancient  time,  on  the  accusation  of  men 
plotting  his  death,  who  threatened  Pilate  into  cowardly  submis- 
sion.    Why  did  Jesus  make  no  effort  to  defend  himself  or  to 
resist  the  dastardly  treatment  of  the  policemen? 

7.  Mark  15:   16-47.     Hpw  was  Jesus  able  to  bear  with  such 
self-control  the  terrible  experiences  of  his  unfair  trial  and  his 
judicial  murder  on  the  cross?     What  determines  how  we  will 
act   when    the   supreme   crisis   comes? 

QUESTIONS   FOR   GROUP   DISCUSSION 

1.  Why  does  a  crisis  reveal  the  real  characteristics  of  a  man? 
What  determines  how  a  person  will  act  in  a  crisis?    How  much 
do  personal  characteristics  and  how  much  does  training  decide? 

2.  How  far  can  a  man  prepare  himself  in  advance  so  that  he 
will   meet  the   testing   times   effectively?     How? 

3.  What  was  the  issue  in  Jesus'  Gethsemane  struggle?     Mark 
14:  32-42   (Section  4).     How  did  the  issue  here  compare  with 
that  in   the   crisis   in   the   wilderness   and   at    Caesarea    Philippi 
(Chapters  II  and  XI)  ?    How  did  this  experience  prepare  Jesus 
for  his  trial  and  crucifixion? 

4.  Review   briefly   the    experience    in    connection    with   Jesus' 
trial  and  crucifixion.     Luke  22:  54-71;  23:  1-25;  Mark  15:  16-47 
(Sections  6  and  7).    How  was  Jesus  able  to  bear  with  such  self- 
control  the  terrible  experiences  of  those  days?    Hpw  does  confi- 
dence in  God  and  prayer  help  men  to  meet  crises  in  life? 


TIMES  OF  SUPREME  TESTING  107 

5.  When  a  man  faces  a  great  moral  issue,  does  it  really  pay 
to  hold  steady  and  not  trim,  even  if  it  means  misunderstanding 
by   your    friends   and    at  times   martyrdom?     Hoy    would   you 
demonstrate  this  to  a  person  who  came  to  you  for  counsel? 

6.  What  did  Jesus  gain  for  his  cause  by  facing  it  out  hero- 
ically in  Jerusalem?    How  did  Jesus'  death  help  his  cause? 

7.  What  qualities  in  Jesus  did  the  crisis  of  his  trial  and  death 
reveal? 


CHAPTER  XXI 

Can  We  Believe  That  Life  Does  Not 
End? 

Jesus'  Followers  See  That  He  Is  Alive 

The  great  hope  of  Christianity  has  centered  around  a  belief 
that  life  does  not  end.  Christians,  during  the  centuries,  have 
faced  even  disaster  in  their  work  for  Christ's  cause  in  a  confi- 
dence that  life  was  not  in  vain  and  that  the  cause  would  triumph. 
To  each  person  comes  the  question :  Have  Christians  been 
clinging  to  a  vain  hope?  Can  we  really  believe  that  life  does 
not  end  and  is  not  lived  in  vain? 

BIBLE  REFERENCES 
Matt.  27:  62-66. 

62  Next  day   (that  is,  on  the  day  after  the  Preparation)   the 

63  high  priests   and   Pharisees  gathered  round  Pilate  and  said, 
"We   remember,   sir,   that   when   this  impostor   was   alive  he 

64  said,  'I  will  rise  after  three  days.'     Now  then,  give  orders 
for  the  tomb  to  be  kept  secure  till  the  third  day,  in  case  his 
disciples   go    and    steal   him   and   then    tell   the    people,    'He 
has  risen  from  the  dead.'     The  end  of  the  fraud  will  then 

65  be   worse   than   the  beginning  of   it."     Pilate   said   to   them, 
"Take  a  guard  of  soldiers,  go  and  make  it  as  secure  as  you 

66  can."     So  off  they  went  and  made  the  tomb  secure  by  put- 
ting a  seal  on  the  boulder  and  setting  the  guard. 

Mark  16:  1-8. 

1  And    when    the    sabbath    had    passed    Mary    of    Magdala, 
Mary    the    mother    of    James,    and    Salome    bought    some 

2  spices  in  order  to  go  and  anoint  him ;  and  very  early  on  the 
first  day  of  the  week  they  went  to  the  tomb,  after  sunrise. 

3  They  saia  to  themselves,   "Who  will  roll  away  the  boulder 
for  us  at  the  opening  of  the  tomb?"     (for  it  was  a  very  large 

4  boulder).     But  when  they  looked  they  saw  the  boulder  had 

5  been  rolled  to  one  side,  and  on  entering  the  tomb  they  saw 
a  youth  sitting  on  the  right  dressed  ir   a  white  robe.     They 

6  were  bewildered,  but  he  said  to  them,  "Do  not  be  bewildered. 

108 


BELIEVE  LIFE  DOES  NOT  END  109 

You  are  looking  for  Jesus  of   Nazaret,  who  was  crucified? 
He  has  risen,  he  is  not  here.     That  is  the  place  where  he 

7  was  laid.     Go  you  and  tell  his  disciples  and  Peter,  'He  pre- 
cedes you  to   Galilee ;   you   shall   see   him   there,   as   he   told . 

8  you/  "     And  they  fled  out  of  the  tomb,  for  they  were  seized 
with   terror   and   beside    themselves.     They   said   nothing   to 
anyone,  for  they  were  afraid  of  — x.     , 

Luke  24:  13-53. 

13  That  very  day  two  of  them  were  on  their  way  to  a  village 

14  called    Emmaus    about    seven    miles    from    Jerusalem.      They 

15  were    conversing    about    all    these    events,    and    during    their 
conversation    and    discussion    Jesus    himself    approached    and 

16  walked    beside    them,    though    they    were    prevented    from 

17  recognizing  him.     He   said   to   them,   "What  is   all   this  you 
are  debating  on  your  walk?"     They  stopped,  looking  down- 

18  cast,  and  one  of  them,  called   Cleopas,   answered  him,   "Are 
you   a   lone    stranger   in   Jerusalem,    not   to   know    what   has 

19  been  happening  there?"     "What  is  that?"  he  said  to  them. 
They  replied,    "All  about  Jesus   of   Nazaret !     To   God   and 
all  the  people  he  was  a  prophet  strong  in  action  and  utter- 

20  ance,  but  the  high  priests  and  our   rulers  delivered  him  up 

21  to  be  sentenced  to  death  and  crucified  him.     Our  own  hope 
was  that  he  would  be  the  redeemer  of  Israel;  but  he  is  dead, 

22  and  that  is  three  days  ago !     Though  some   women   of  our 
number  gave  us  a  surprise ;  they  were  at  the  tomb  early  in 

23  the  morning  and  could  not  find  his  body,  but  they  came  to 
tell  us   they  had  actually  seen  a  vision   of   angels  who   de- 

24  clared  he  was  alive.    Some  of  our  company  did  go  to  the  tomb 
and    found    things    exactly    as    the    women    had    said,    but 

25  they  did  not  see  him."     He   said  to  them,   "O   foolish  men, 
with  hearts  so   slow  to  believe,   after  all  the  prophets  have 

26  declared !      Had    not    the     Christ    to     suffer     thus    and     so 

27  enter  his  glory?"     Then   he  began   with   Moses   and  all  the 
prophets    and    interpreted    to    them    the    passages    referring 

28  to  himself  throughout  the  scriptures.     Now  they  approached 
the  village  to  which  they  were  going.     He  pretended  to  be 

29  going  further  on,  but  they  pressed  him,,  saying,   "Stay  with 
us,   for  it  is  getting  towards  evening  and  the   day  has  now 

30  declined."     So   he  went  in   to   stay  with   them.     And   as   he 
lay  at  table  with  them  he  took  the  loaf,  blessed  it,  broke  it 

31  and  handed  it  to  them.     Then  their  eyes  were  opened  and 
they    recognized    him,    but    he    vanished    from    their    sight. 

32  And^  they   said   to   one    another,    "Did   not   our   hearts    glow 
within  us  when  he  was  talking  to  us  on  the  road,  opening 

1  The  Greek  is  obscure  at  this  point. 


no  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

33  up   the    scriptures    for   us?"     So   they  got   up   and   returned 
that  very  hour  to  Jerusalem,   where  they   found   the   eleven 

34  and  their  friends  all  gathered,  who  told  them  that  the  Lord 
had    really    risen    and    that    he    had    appeared    to     Simon. 

35  Then    they   related    their   own    experience   on    the    road    and 
how    they    had    recognized    him    when    he    broke    the    loaf. 

36  Just  as  they  were  speaking  He  stood  among  them  [and  said 

37  to  them,  "Peace  to  you!"]     They  were  scared  and  terrified, 

38  imagining  it   was   a   ghost  they  saw ;   but   he   said   to   them, 
"Why  are  you  upset?     Why  do  doubts  invade  your  mind? 

39  Look  at  my  hands  and  feet.     It  is  I !     Feel  me  and  see ;  a 

40  ghost  has  not  flesh  and  bones  as  you  see  I   have.'       [With 

41  these    words   he   showed   them   his   hands    and    feet.]      Even 
yet  they  could  not  believe  it   for  sheer  joy;  they  were  lost 

42  in  wonder.     So  he  said  to  them,  "Have  you  any  food  here?" 

43  And  when  they  handed  him  a  piece  of  broiled  fish,  he  took 

44  and  ate  it  in  their  presence.     Then  he  said  to  them,  "When 
I  was  still  with  you,  this  is  what  I  told  you,  that  whatever 
is  written  about  me  in  the  law  of  Moses  and  the  prophets 

45  and   the   psalms   must  be   fulfilled."     Then   he   opened    their 

46  minds  to  understand  the  scriptures.     "Thus,"  he  said,   "it  is 
written    that    the    Christ    has    to    suffer    and    rise    from    the 

47  dead  on  the  third  day,   and  that  repentance  and  the  remis- 
sion of   sins  must  be  preached   in   his  name   to   all  nations, 

48  beginning    from   Jerusalem.     To    this    you    must   bear    testi- 

49  mony.     And  I  will  send  down  on  you  what  my  Father  has 
promised ;   wait  in  the  city  till  you  are  endued  with  power 

50  from  on  high."     He  led  them  out  as  far  as  Bethany;  then, 

51  lifting  his  hands,  he  blessed  them.     And  as  he  blessed  them 

52  he  parted  from  them  [and  was  carried  up  to  heaven].    They 
[worshipped    him    and]    returned    with    great    joy    to    Jeru- 

53  salem,    where   they   spent   all   their   time   within   the   temple, 
blessing  God. 

Matt.  28:  11-20. 

11  While  they  were  on  their  way,  some  of  the  sentries  went 
into  the  city  and  reported  all   that  had   taken   place  to  the 

12  high   priests,    who,    after   meeting   and   conferring   with   the 
elders,   gave   a  considerable   sum   of   money  to   the  ^  soldiers 

13  and  told  them  to  say  that  "his  disciples  came  at  night  and 

14  stole   him   when   we   were   asleep."     "If   this   comes   to   the 
ears  of  the  governor,"  they  added,  "we  will  satisfy  him  and 

15  see  that  you   have   no   trouble   about   the   matter."     So   the 
soldiers    took    the    money    and    followed    their    instructions ; 
and  this  story  has  been  disseminated  among  the  Jews  down 
to  the  present  day. 

16  Now  the  eleven  disciples  went  to  Galilee,  to  the  hill  where 


BELIEVE  LIFE  DOES  NOT  END  ill 

17  Jesus    had    arranged    to    meet    them.     When    they    saw    him 

18  they   worshipped    him,    though    some   were   in    doubt.     Then 
Jesus  came   forward  to  them  and   said,   "Full  authority  has 

19  been   given   to   me    in   heaven    and   on   earth ;    go    and   make 
disciples   of   all   nations,   baptize   them   in   the   name   of   the 

20  Father  and  the  Son  and  the  holy  Spirit,  and  teach  them  to 
obey  all  the  commands  I  have  laid  on  you.     And  I  will  be 
with  you  all  the  time,  to  the  very  end  of  the  world." 

SUGGESTIONS  FOR  PERSONAL  STUDY 

1.  Matt.  27:  62-66.     What  hint  does  this  give  as  to  the  fear 
of  the  religious  leaders  of  the  power  of  the  movement  inaugu- 
rated by  Jesus? 

2.  Mark  16:   1-8;  Matt.  28:  i-io.     Compare  the  Mark  and 
Matthew  account  of  Jesus'  resurrection. 

3.  Luke  24:  13-35.    "Our  own  hope  was  that  he  would  be  the 
Redeemer  of  Israel"  (verse  21).    What  in  their  idea  of  the  "De- 
liverer" made  it  hard  for  them  to  keep  their  hope,  when  he  had 
suffered  such  an  ignominious  death? 

4.  Luke  24:   13-35.     Note  the  strange  new  light  that  broke 
into  these  men's  lives  when  they  could  say,  "Jesus  is  living."    ki 
what  ways  is  Jesus  a  living  reality  to  us  today? 

5.  Luke  24:  36-53.     What  difference  did  it  make  to  the  dis- 
ciples when  they  believed  in  Jesus  as  living? 

6.  Matt.  28:  11-20.     In  what  sense  is  Jesus  the  real  leader  of 
his  cause  today? 

7.  Think  back  over  Jesus'  life  and  the  seeming  defeat  which 
culminated  in  his  death.     What  gave  him  his  indomitable  confi- 
dence that  his  cause  would  triumph?     How  does  Jesus'  triumph 
over  death  give  hope  to  his  followers  in  their  efforts  to  carry 
on  his  cause? 

QUESTIONS    FOR    GROUP    DISCUSSION 

1.  Why  do  we  call  the  heroes  whose  memory  we  honor  on 
Memorial  Day,  immortals?    Why  do  we  find  it  difficult  to  believe 
that  the  fine   fellows   who   "went  west"   in  the   War   are   gone 
forever? 

2.  On  what  grounds  do  some  men  disbelieve  in.  immortality? 
Why  can  you  riot  give  a  logical  proof  of  immortality?    On  what 
grounds  do  you  believe  in  something  you  cannot  prove?     How 
can  you  account  for  the  fact  that  all  races  have  held  this  hope, 
even  though  there  is  no  logical  proof? 

3.  Review   the   record   of   this   chapter,    Mark   16:    1-8;   Luke 
24:  1-53;  Matt.  28:  11-20;   (Sections  2  to  7).     How  is  our  hope 
of  immortality  strengthened  by  this  record  of  the  experience  of 


ii2  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

Jesus?    What  advantages  has  a  Christian  over  others  as  he  faces 
the  experiences  of  death  or  the  loss  of  loved  ones? 

4.  How  does  it  help  a  man  to  face  the  world  task  to  believe 
Jesus  is  living? 

5.  When  a  righteous  cause  goes  to  defeat,  why  does  it  shake 
men's  confidence  in  the  triumph  of  right?     How,  if  at  all,  does 
a  belief   in   immortality  give   men   courage  to   work  on   in   the 
face    of    discouragement   and    defeat? 

6.  What  hope  does  the  persistence  of  Jesus'  cause,  despite  the 
seeming  triumph  of  his  opponents  in  putting  him  to  death,  lend 
to  those  who  are  working  in  his  cause  today? 


Summary  of  Events 

We  have  now  covered  the  major  part  of  the  record  of  Jesus' 
life  according  to  the  synoptic  gospels.  Where  an  incident 
appears  in  more  than  one  gospel,  only  a  single  record,  either 
that  of  Matthew,  Mark,  or  Luke,  has  been  printed.  Practically 
all  of  the  incidents  are  in  chronological  order  as  suggested  by 
Sharman's  arrangement  in  the  "Records  of  the  Life  of  Jesus" 
and  in  "Jesus  in  the  Records."  Glancing  back  over  this  mate- 
rial, it  will  be  seen  that  sections  have  been  covered  as  follows : 

1.  Jesus,  beside  the  Jordan,  answers  John's  challenge  and  in 
the  wilderness  struggle  decides  his  life  mission  (Chapters  I  and 

ii). 

2.  Jesus,  healing  and  teaching  in  Galilee,  wins  the  approval  of 
the  people,   and  in   repeated   clashes   with   the   religious  leaders 
he  makes  clear  his  moral  and  religious  standards   (Chapters  III 
to  IX). 

3.  Jesus   is    forced  by  the   growing  hostility  of  the   religious 
leaders  to  leave  Galilee,  and  he  visits  Tyre,  Sidon,  and  Decapolis 
(Chapter  X). 

4.  Jesus  at  Caesarea  Philippi  faces  with  his  disciples  the  cost 
of  Messiahship  and  starts  for  Jerusalem    (Chapter  XI). 

5.  Jesus  continues  his  work  and  teaching  on  the  journey  to 
Jerusalem  (Chapters  XII  to  XVIII). 

6.  Jesus  finally  clashes  with  the  religious  leaders  in  Jerusalem 
(Chapter  XIX). 

7.  Jesus  faces  the  struggle  in  Gethsemane  and  meets  his  trial, 
crucifixion,  and  victory   (Chapters  XX  and  XXI). 

Studies  XXII  to  XXIX  deal  with  issues  and  questions  of 
importance  in  the  life  of  today  which  faced  Jesus  at  various 
times  during  his  life.  The  incidents  are  so  scattered  that  it 
was  difficult  to  consider  them  in  the  chronological  study  of  the 
record.  They  are  being  handled  now  topically  to  find  just  how 
Jesus  met  these  issues  and  what  he  thought  about  these  matters. 
In  these  studies  there  will  be  found  some  repetition  of  material 
already  studied  in  its  setting.  It  is  gathered  together  in  the  fol- 
lowing chapters  under  the  appropriate  topics. 


CHAPTER  XXII 

How  Do  We  Enlist  in  Jesus'  Cause? 

What  Jesus  Asked  of  His  Followers 

In  this  week's  readings  try  to  forget  your  own  ideas  of  what 
it  means  to  become  a  follower  of  Jesus  and  see  what  he  really 
asked  of  those  who  joined  his  cause  in  his  day. 

BIBLE  REFERENCES 
Mark  i :  16-20. 

16  Now  as  he  passed  along  the  sea  of  Galilee  he  saw  Simon 
.     and    Simon's    brother   Andrew   netting   fish    in    the    sea — for 

17  they  were  fishermen ;  so  Jesus  said  to  them,  "Come,  follow 

18  me  and  I  will  make  you  fish  for  men."    At  once  they  dropped 

19  their    nets    and    went    after    him.      Then    going    on    a    little 
further  he  saw  James  the  son  of  Zebedaeus  and  his  brother 
John ;    they    too    were    in    their    boat,    mending    their    nets ; 

20  he  called  them  at  once,  and  they  left  their  father  Zebedaeus 
in  the  boat  with  the  crew  and  went  to  follow  him. 

Mark  3:  31-35. 

31  Then  came  his  brothers  and  his  mother,  and  standing  out- 

32  side  they  sent  to  call  him ;  there  was  a  crowd  sitting  round 
him,  and  he  was  told,  "Here  are  your  mother  and  brothers 

33  and    sisters   wanting  you   outside."     He   replied,    "Who   are 

34  my  mother  and  my  brothers?"     And  glancing  at  those  ^who 
were  sitting  round  him  in  a  circle  he  said,  "There  are  my 

35  mother  and  my  brothers !     Whoever   does  the  will  of   God, 
that  is  my  brother  and  sister  and  mother." 

Mark  8:  34-38. 

34  Then  he   called  the   crowd  to  him  with  his   disciples  and 
said  to  them,  "If  anyone  wishes  to  follow  me,  let  him  deny 
himself,  take  up  his  cross,  and  so  follow  me; 

35  for  whoever  wants  to  save  his  life  will  lose  it, 

and  whoever  loses  his  life  for  my  sake  and  the  gospel's 
will  save  it. 

36  What  profit  is  it  for  a  man  to  gain  the  whole  world  and 

114 


HOW  ENLIST  IN  JESUS'  CAUSE?  115 

37  to  forfeit  his  soul?     What  could  a  man  offer  as  an  equiva- 
lent for  his  soul? 

38  Whoever  is  ashamed  of  me  and  my  words  in  this  disloyal 
and  sinful  generation,  the  Son  of  man  will  be  ashamed  of 
him  when  he  comes  in  the  glory  of  his  Father  with  the  holy 
angels. 

Luke  9:  57-62. 

57  And  as  they  journeyed  along  the  road  a  man  said  to  him, 

58  "I  will  follow  you  anywhere."    Jesus  said  to  him, 
"The  foxes  have  their  holes, 

the  wild  birds  have  their  nests, 
but  the  Son  of  man  has  nowhere  to  lay  his  head." 

59  He  said  to  another  man,  "Follow  me" ;  but  he  said,  "Let  me 

60  go  and  bury  my  father  first  of  all."    Jesus  said  to  him,  "Leave 
the  dead  to  bury  their  own  dead ;  you  go  and  spread  the  news 

61  of  the  Reign  of  God."    Another  man  also  said  to  him,  "I  will 
follow  you,  Lord.    But  let  me  first  say  good-bye  to  my  people 

62  at  home."  Jesus  said  to  him,  "No  one  is  any  use  to  the  Reign 
of  God  who  puts  his  hand  to  the  plough  and  then  looks  behind 
him." 

Mark  10:   13-22. 

13  Now    people    brought    children    for    him    to    touch    them, 

14  and  the  disciples  checked  them ;  but  Jesus  was  angry  when 
he  saw  this,   and  he   said  to   them,   "Let  the  children   come 
to  me,  do  not  stop  them :  the  Realm  of  God  belongs  to  such 

15  as  these.     I  tell  you  truly,   whoever  will  not  submit  to  the 
reign    of    God    like    a   child    will   never   get   into    it    at   all." 

16  Then  he  put  his  arms  round  them,  laid  his  hands  on  them 
and  blessed  them. 

17  As   he    went   out   on    the    road   a   man  ran    up    and   knelt 
down   before   him.     "Good   teacher,"   he   asked,    "what   must 

18  I  do  to  inherit  life  eternal?"     Jesus  said  to  him,  "Why  call 

19  me  'good'?     No  one  is  good,  no  one  but  God.     You  know 
the  commands:  do  not  kill,  do  not  commit  adultery,  do  not 
steal,    do    not    bear   false   witness,    do    not    defraud,    honour 

20  your  father  and  mother/'     "Teacher,"  he  said,  "I  have  ob- 

21  served  all  these  commands   from  my  youth."     Jesus  looked 
at    him    and   loved   him.      "There    is   one   thing   you    want," 
he  said ;  "go  and  sell  all  you  have ;  give  the  money  to  the 
poor  and  you  will  have  treasure  in  heaven ;  then  come,  take 

22  up  the  cross,  and  follow  me."    But  his  face  fell  at  that,  and  he 
went  sadly  away,  for  he  had  great  possessions. 

Mark    10:    28-31. 

28      Peter  began,  "Well,  we  have  left  our  all  and  followed  you." 


ii6  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

29  Jesus  said,  "I  tell  you  truly,  no  one  has  left  home  or  brothers 
or  sisters  or  mother  or  father  or  children  or  lands   for  my 

30  sake  and   for  the   sake  of  the  gospel,   who  does  not  get  a 
hundred    times     as    much — in     this    present    world    homes, 
brothers,     sisters,     mothers,     children     and     lands,     together 
with   persecutions,    and    in   the   world   to    come   life    eternal. 

31  Many  who  are  first  will  be  last,  and  many  who  are  last  will 
be  first." 

Luke   14:  25-35. 

25  There  were  large  crowds  travelling  with  him ;  so  he  turned 
and  said  to  them, 

26  "If    anyone   comes   to   me   and   does   not   hate   his    father 
and  mother  and  wife  and  children  and  brothers  and  sisters, 
aye  and  his  own  life, 

he  cannot  be  a  disciple  of  mine ; 

27  whoever  does  not  carry  his  own  cross  and  come  after  me, 

he  cannot  be  a  disciple  of  mine. 

28  For  which  of  you  wants  to  build  a  tower  and  does  not  first 
sit  down  to  calculate  the  expense,  to  see  if  he  has  enough 

29  money  to  complete  it? — in  case,  after  he  has  laid  the  foun- 
dation and  then  is  unable  to  finish  the  building,  all  the  specta- 

30  tors  start  to  make  fun  of  him,  saying,  'This  fellow  started  to 

31  build  but  he  could  not  finish  it'  Or  what  king  sets  out  to  fight 
against  another  king  without  first  sitting  down  to  deliberate 
whether  with  ten  thousand  men  he  can  encounter  the  king 
who  is  attacking  him  with  twenty  thousand?     If  he  cannot, 

32  when  the  other  is  still  at  a  distance  he  will  send  an  embassy 
to  do  homage  to  him. 

33  So  with  everyone  of  you  who  will  not  part  with  all  his 

goods — 
he  cannot  be  a  disciple  of  mine. 

34  Salt  is  excellent  indeed :  but  if  salt  becomes  insipid,  what 

35  will    restore   its    flavour?      It   is   no   use    for    either    soil    or 
dunghill,  it  is  flung  out.     He  who  has  an  ear  let  him  listen 
to  this." 

Luke  15:  11-32.    See  page    82. 
Luke   19:  i-io.     See  page  131. 

SUGGESTIONS  FOR  PERSONAL  STUDY 

1.  Mark  i:  16-20;  Mark  3:  31-35.     What  did  Jesus'  imme- 
diate disciples  do  to  become  followers  of  him?    Who  did  Jesus 
say  were  genuine  relatives  of  his? 

2.  Mark  8:    34-38.     Just   what   are   the   minimum   essentials 
Jesus  here  lays  down  for  a  man  "who  would  come  after"  him? 


HOW  ENLIST  IN  JESUS'  CAUSE?  117 

If  a  man  today  asked  you  just  what  he  would  have  to  deny 
himself  in  becoming  a  Christian,  what  would  you  tell  him? 

3.  Luke  9:  57-62.     Why  did  these  men  refuse  to  enlist  after 
saying  they  would?     What  excuses  would  men  offer  to  today? 

4.  Mark  10:   13-16.         What  did  Jesus  mean  when  he  said 
his  followers  must  become  as  little  children?     What  character- 
istics of  children  did  Jesus  want  his  disciples  to  imitate? 

5.  Mark   10:    17-22,  28-31.     What  was   lacking  in  this  rich 
young   church   member   of   fine   moral   character?     What   really 
kept  him   from  listening  to  Jesus*   call   for   enlistment?     What 
did  the  disciples  of  Jesus  say  they  had  done?     (Compare  Luke 
5:  i-n.)     What  does  it  mean  "to  leave  all  to  follow  Jesus"? 

6.  Luke  14:  25-35.     What  does  Jesus  mean  by  "hateth"  when 
used  as  a  condition  of  enlisting  in  his  cause?     In  modern  terms 
what  does  it  mean  to  "renounce  all"  ?     What  do  we  renounce, , 
when    we    become    followers    of    Jesus    today?' 

7.  Read  rapidly  the  stories  in  Luke  15:  11-32  and  Luke  19: 
i-io  (see  pages  82,  131).    Just  what  conditions  did  the  prodigal 
son  meet  before  he  was  received  back  into  his  father's  house? 
Compare  with  this  Zacchseus's  offer  to  make  good  his  past  dis- 
honest dealings.     How  far  must  a  man  make  past  wrongs  right 
before  he  can  enlist  in  Jesus'  cause? 

QUESTIONS   FOR   GROUP   DISCUSSION 

1.  What  is  your  idea  of  what  it  means  to  become  a  follower 
of  Jesus?    What  is  the  ordinary  statement  of  what  it  means? 

2.  What  are  the  requirements  Jesus  made  of  those  who  would 
be  his  followers? 

a.  Mark  i:  16-20,  Mark  3:  31-35  (Section  i).    What  did  Jesus 
ask  of  his  immediate  followers? 

b.  Mark  8:  34-38,  Luke  14:  25-35   (Sections  2,  6).     If  a  man 
asked  you  what  he  must  renounce,  or  what  kind  of  a  cross  he  had 
to  take  up,  to  become  a  Christian,  what  would  you  tell  him? 

c.  Mark  10:  13-16,  17-22,  28-31   (Sections  4,  5).    What  charac- 
teristics of  children  did  Jesus  want  his  disciples  to  have?    What 
was  lacking  in  thi^  rich  young  church  member  of  fine  moral  char- 
acter ?  . 

d.  What  light,  if  any,  do  the  stories  of  the  prodigal  son  and 
Zacchaeus  throw  on  whether  a  man  must  make  past  wrongs  right 
before  he  can  become  a  Christian?     Luke  15:  11-32,  Luke  19: 
i-io  (Section  7). 

e.  Try  to  forget  for  the  moment,  the  idea  you  had  of  what  it 
means  to  become  a  follower  of  Jesus  and  in  the  light  of  these 
incidents  state  just  what  Jesus  put  up  to  men  in  his  day. 


ii8  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

3.  How  does  a  man  become  a  follower  of  Jesus?    How  does 
this   differ    from  the  way  you  join  any  other   sacrificial  cause 
under  a  great  leader? 

4.  How  much  does  the  country  ask  of  its  soldiers?    How  much 
does  Jesus  ask  when  a  man  enlists  in  his  cause? 

5.  Some   say  that   our   present   economic   and   political   order 
is  unchristian,  and  that  it  is  not  possible  to  be  a  business  man  or 
in  political  life  today  without  compromising  on  Jesus'  require- 
ments of  his  followers.     What  is  your  conviction  on  this?     If 
you  think  it  is  not  possible  to  be  a  real   Christian  in  present 
business,   industrial,  and  political  life,  what  would  you   suggest 
to  a  man  to  do :  refuse  to  take  part  in  business  or  politics  or  do 
the  best  he  can   under   the   circumstances,   even  though   it   in- 
volves compromising?     Why? 

6.  How  are  followers  won  to  Jesus  and  his  cause?     What  is 
the  relative  importance  of  seeking  to  win  others  to  become  fol- 
lowers of  Jesus  and  of  living  so  that  one's  spirit  and  acts  rec- 
ommend Jesus  and  his  teachings? 

7.  What  does  loyalty  to  Jesus  mean?     How  does  it  differ  in 
its  quality  from  loyalty  to  the  President  or  loyalty  to  the  com- 
mander of  an  army?    What  difference  does  it  make  in  action? 


CHAPTER  XXIII 

What  Is  the  Christian  Ideal  of  Chivalry? 

Jesus  Sets  a  High  Standard  for  Men  and  Women 

Students  of  history  say  that  Christianity  in  every  land  where 
it  has  been  introduced  has  resulted  in  a  decided  advance  in  the 
place  of  women  and  in  the  standards  for  men  and  women.  How 
does  it  happen  that  Christianity  brings  this  result?  What  sort 
of  an  ideal  did  Jesus  give  for  men  and  women? 

BIBLE  REFERENCES 

Matt.  5:  21-24,  27,  28. 

21  "You  have  heard  how  the  men  of  old  were  told,  'Murder 
not: 

whoever  murders  must  come  up  for  sentence, 

22  whoever  maligns  his  brother  must  come  before  the  San- 

hedrin, 

whoever  curses  his  brother  must  go  to  the  fire  of  Gehenna/ 
But  I  tell  you,  whoever  is  angry  with  his  brother   [without 

23  cause]  will  be  sentenced  by  God.     So  if  you  remember,  even 
when  offering  your  gift  at  the  altar,  that  your  brother  has 

24  any  grievance  against  you,  leave  your  gift  at  the  very  altar 
and  go  away,  first  be  reconciled  to  your  brother,  then  come 
back  and  offer  your  gift.  .    .    . 

27  You  have  heard  how  it  used  to  be  said,  Do  not  commit 

28  adultery.     But  I  tell  you,  any  one  who  even  looks  with  lust 
at   a   woman   has    committed   adultery   with  her   already   in 
his  heart." 

Mark  10:  2-12. 

2  Now  some  Pharisees  came  up  and  asked  him  if  a  man  was 

3  allowed  to  divorce  his  wife.     This  was  to  tempt  him.     So  he 

4  replied,  "What  did  Moses  lay  down  for  you?"     They  said, 
"Moses  permitted  a  man  to  divorce  her  by  writing  out  a  sepa- 

5  ration  notice/'    Jesus  said  to  them,  "He  wrote  you  that  com- 
et mand  on  account  of  the  hardness  of  your  hearts.     But  from 

the  beginning,  when  God  created  the  world, 
Male  and  female,  He  created  them: 

up 


120  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

7  hence  a  man  shall  leave  his  father  and  mother, 

8  and  the  pair  shall  be  one  flesh. 

9  So  they  are  no  longer  two,  but  one  flesh.     What  God  has 

10  joined,    then,    man    must    not    separate."      Indoors,    the    dis- 

11  ciples    again    asked    him    about   this,    and    he    said    to    them, 
"Whoever    divorces    his    wife    and    marries    another    woman 

12  is    an    adulterer    to    the    former,    and    she    is    an    adulteress 
.    if      she      divorces      her     husband      and      marries      another 

man." 

Luke  7:  36-39,  48-50. 

36  One  of  the   Pharisees  asked  him  to  dinner,  and   entering 

37  the  house  of  the  Pharisee  he  reclined  at  table.     Now  there 
was  a  woman  in  the  town  who  was  a  sinner,  and  when  she 
found    out    that    Jesus    was    at   table    in    the    house    of    the 

38  Pharisee    she    brought    an    alabaster    flask    of    perfume    and 
stood  behind  him  at  his   feet  in  tears;   her  tears  began   to 
wet  his  feet,  so  she  wiped  them  with  the  hair  of  her  head, 
pressed  kisses   on    them,    and   anointed   them    with   the   per- 

39  fume.     When  his  host  the  Pharisee  noticed  this,  he  said  to 
himself,  "If  he  was  a  prophet  he  would  know  what  sort  of 
a  woman  this  is  who  is  touching  him,  for  she  is  a  sinner."  .  .  . 

48  And  he  said  to  her,   "Your  sins  are  forgiven."     His   fellow 

49  guests  began  to  say  to  themselves,  "Who  is  this,  to  forgive 

50  even   sins?"     But  he   said   to   the   woman,   "Your   faith   has 
saved  you ;  go  in  peace." 

Mark  7:  8-13. 

8  "You  drop  what  God  commands  and  hold  to  human  tradi- 

9  tion.     Yes,    forsooth,"  he^  added,   "you   set   aside   what   God 

10  commands,    so    as    to    maintain   your    own    tradition.     Thus, 
Moses  said,  Honour  your  father  and  mother,  and,  He  who 

11  curses  his  father  or  mother   is  to   suffer  death.     But  you 
say  that  if  a  man  tells  his   father  or  mother,   'This  money 
might   have   been   at   your   service,   but  it   is   Korban'    (that 

12  is,    dedicated    to    God),    he    is    exempt,    so   you    hold,    from 

13  doing  anything   for  his   father   or   mother.     That   is   repeal- 
ing the  word  of  God  in  the  interests  of  the  tradition  which 
you  keep  up.    And  you  do  many  things  like  that." 

Luke  10 :  38-41. 

38  In  the  course  of  their  journey  he  entered  a  certain  village, 
and   a   woman    called    Martha   welcomed   him   to   her   house. 

39  She  had  a  sister  called  Mary,  who  seated  herself  at  the  feet 

40  of  the  Lord  to  listen  to  his  talk.     Now  Martha  was  so  busy 
attending  to  them  that  she  grew  worried ;  she  came  up  and 
said,  "Lord,  is  it  all  one  to  you  that  my  sister  has  left  me 


CHRISTIAN  IDEAL  OF  CHIVALRY  121 

to  do  all  the  work  alone  ?      Come,  tell  her  to  lend  me  a  hand." 

41  The  Lord  answered  her,  "Martha,  Martha,  Mary  has  chosen 

the  best  dish,  and  she  is  not  to  be  dragged  away  from  it." 

SUGGESTIONS   FOR  PERSONAL   STUDY 

1.  Matt.  5:  21-28.     Which  reveals  a  man's  real  attitude  toward 
women :   what   he   does    or   what  he   thinks  ?     How   much   does 
what  he  thinks  influence  his  actions? 

2.  What  in  modern  life  tends  to  appeal  to  low  thinking  and 
questionable    attitudes    regarding    the    relations    of    men    and 
women  ? 

3.  Under  the  customs  and  laws  of  Jesus'  time,  a  woman  might 
be  divorced  by  her  husband  for  the  most  trivial  causes — for  in- 
stance,  for  scorching  the  food  prepared  for  a  meal.     She  was 
subject  to  the  whims  of  her  husband.     Read  Jesus'  sharp  words 
about   these    easy   divorce    practices    and   his    insistence    on    the 
sacredness  of  marriage.    Mark  10:  2-12.     Do  you  or  do  you  not 
think  Jesus  would  speak  with  equal  severity  concerning  divorce 
laws  and  practices  today?     Why? 

4.  Luke    7 :    36-39,    48-50.      Why    does    society   persist    in    a 
double   standard?      How   can   we   help   in   establishing   a   single 
standard  ? 

5.  Mark  7:  1-13.     How  much  of  our  courteous  treatment  of 
parents  and  of  women  by  men  and  of  men  by  women,  is  due  to 
custom ;   how  much   of   it  grows  out  of   the   deep   regard  of  a 
genuine  chivalry?     What  causes  the  difference? 

6.  Luke  10:  38-41.     Jesus  was  evidently  a  welcome  guest  in 
the  home  of  Mary  and  Martha  and  their  brother  Lazarus.    What 
fine  comradeships  were  those  of  Jesus !     How  do  fine   friend- 
ships of  men  and  women  help  pure  thinking  and  high  living? 

7.  Glance  again  at  Chapter  XVII   (page  82)   and  see  the  evi- 
dences of  Jesus'  high  regard  for  people. 

QUESTIONS    FOR    GROUP    DISCUSSION 

1.  What  current  rules  of  courtesy  have  grown  out  of  a  high 
regard   for   women?     What  have  arisen  out  of   the  regard   of 
children  for  their  parents? 

2.  What  customs  in  modern  life  tend  to  cheapen  or  degrade 
the  relationships  of  boys  and  girls  and  men  and  women?     What 
effect  are  these  having  upon  home  and  social  life? 

3.  How  do  the  possibilities  of  genuine  chivalry  compare  today 
with  Jesus'   day?     What   effect  has   Christianity  had   upon   the 
attitude  toward  women,  and  her  place  in  the  life  of  a  nation? 

4.  What  in  the  practices  of  Jesus'  day  regarding  these  matters 


122  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

did  Jesus  condemn?  Mark  10:  2-12;  Luke  7:  36-39,  48-50  (Sec- 
tions 3  and  4).  Why?  How  did  Jesus  show  his  reverence  for 
the  personality  of  others?  Why  did  he  place  so  strong  an  em- 
phasis upon  high  thinking?  Matt.  5:  21-28  (Section  i).  How 
important  do  you  feel  Jesus'  emphasis  is  here?  What  attitude 
should  society  take  toward  a  man  of  impure  thought,  with  low 
regard  for  women? 

5.  What  practices  and  customs  today  make  it  difficult  to  main- 
tain a  Christian  standard  of  chivalry? 

6.  In  what  ways  is  a  double  standard  contrary  to  Jesus'  ideals? 
Why  does  it  persist? 

7.  Do  you  or  do  you  riot  believe  it  is  possible  to  stamp  out 
impurity?    What  incentives  would  lead  men  and  women  to  living 
that  is  clean  and  true  in  thought  and  deed? 

8.  How  can  we  ensure  fine  comradeship  of  men  and  women 
founded  on  equality  and  mutual  respect? 


CHAPTER  XXIV 

How  Is  One's  Life  Work  Discovered? 

Jesus  Shows  the  Christian's  Object  in  Life 

A  person  spends  a  major  share  of  time  and  energy  in  the  life 
work  followed.  This  is  true  both  of  the  man  at  his  business  or 
profession  and  of  the  woman  in  the  home  or  in  any  other  voca- 
tion. Further,  business  and  political  life  represent  perhaps  the 
most  unchristian  parts  of  the  present  world.  If  society  is  to 
be  made  Christian,  in  some  way  a  person's  daily  task  must  be  of 
greater  help  to  that  end  than  it  is  at  present.  How  can  a  life 
work  be  discovered  in  and  through*  which  a  person  can  best  help 
in  the  Christianization  of  the  world?  Of  what  real  importance 
is  a  person's  daily  task  in  and  of  itself,  in  the  advancement  of  the 
Christian  cause? 

BIBLE  REFERENCES 
Mark  i :  14-20. 

14  After    John    had    been    arrested    Jesus    went    to    Galilee 

15  preaching  the  gospel  of   God;  he   said,   "The  time  has  now 
come,  God's  reign  is  near :  repent  and  believe  in  the  gospel." 

16  Now  as  he  passed  along  the  sea  of  Galilee  he  saw  Simon 
and    Simon's   brother    Andrew   netting   fish    in    the    sea — for 

17  they  were  fishermen ;   so  Jesus  said  to  them,  "Come,   follow 

18  me    and    I    will    make    you    fish    for    men."      At    once    they 

19  dropped  their  nets   and  went  after  him.     Then  going  on  a 
little   further  he   saw  James   the   son  of   Zebedaeus   and   his 
brother   John ;    they   too   were   in   their  boat,   mending   their 

20  nets;    he    called    them    at    once,    and    they   left    their    father 
Zebedaeus   in   the  boat  with   the   crew   and   went  to   follow 
him. 

Mark  8:  34-37- 

34  Then  he   called   the   crowd  to  him  with  his   disciples  and 
said  to  them,  "If  an3^one  wishes  to  follow  me,  let  him  deny 
himself,  take  up  his  cross,  and  so  follow  me; 

35  for  whoever  wants  to  save  his  life  will  lose  it, 

and  whoever  loses  his  life   for  my  sake  and  the  gospel's 
will  save  it. 

123 


124  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

36  What  profit  is  it.  for  a  man  to  gain  the  whole  world   and 

37  to  forfeit  his  soul?     What  could  a  man  offer  as  an  equiva- 
lent for  his  soul? 


9:  57-62. 

57  And  as  they  journeyed  along  the  road  a  man  said  to  him, 

58  "I  will  follow  you  anywhere."    Jesus  said  to  him, 

"The   foxes  have  their  holes, 

the  wild  birds  have  their  nests, 

but  the  Son  of  man  has  nowhere  to  lay  his  head." 

59  He  said  to  another  man,  "Follow  me"  ;  but  he  said,  "Let  me 

60  go    and   bury   my    father   first    of    all."     Jesus    said   to   him, 
"Leave  the  dead  to  bury  their  own  dead  ;  you  go  and  spread 

61  the  news  of  the  Reign  of  God."     Another  man  also  said  to 
him,  "I  will  follow  you,  Lord.     But  let  me  first  say  good-bye 

62  to  my  people  at  home."     Jesus  said  to  him,  "No  one  is  any 
use  to  the  Reign  of  God  who  puts  his  hand  to  the  plough 
and  then  looks  behind  him." 

Mark  10:   17-21. 

17  As    he    went    out   on   the    road    a    man   ran    up   and   knelt 
down    before    him,      "Good    teacher,"    he    said,    "what    must 

18  I  do  to  inherit  life  eternal?"     Jesus  said  to  him,  "Why  call 

19  me  'good'?     No  one  is  good,   no  one  but  God.     You  know 
the  commands:  do  not  kill,  do  not  commit  adultery,  do  not 
steal,    do    not    bear   false   witness,    do    not    defraud,    honour 

20  your  father  and  mother/'     "Teacher,"  he   said,   "I  have  ob- 

21  served  all  these  commands   from  my  youth."     Jesus  looked 
at    him    and    loved    him.      "There    is    one    thing   you    want," 
lie  said  ;   "go  and  sell  all  you  have  ;  give  the  money  to  the 
poor  and  you  will  have  treasure  in  heaven  ;  then  come,  take 
up  the  cross,  and  follow  me." 

Matt.  20:  20-28. 

20  Then   the   mother   of   the   sons   of   Zebedaeus   came   up   to 

21  him  with  her  sons,  praying  him  for  a   favour.     He   said  to 
her,  "What  do  you  want?"     She  said,  "Give  orders  that  my 
two  sons  are  to  sit  at  your  right  hand  and  at  your  left  in 

22  your  Realm."     Jesus   replied,   "You   do  not  know   what  you 
are  asking.     Can  you  drink  the   cup   I   am  going  to  drink?" 

,23  They   said   to  him,   "We   can."     "You   shall   drink   my  cup," 

said  Jesus,  "but  it  is  not  for  me  to  grant  seats  at  my  right 

hand  and   at   my  left  ;   these  belong  to   the   men    for   whom 

24  they    have    been    destined    by    my    Father."      When    the    ten 

2$  heard    of    this,    they    were    angry    at    the    two    brothers,    but 

Jesus  called  them  and   said, 

"You  know  the  rulers  of  the  Gentiles  lord  it  over  them, 
and  their  great  men  overbear  them  : 


HOW  IS  LIFE  WORK  DISCOVERED?  125 

26  not  so  with  you. 

Whoever  wants  to  be  great  among  you  must  be  your  ser- 
vant, 

27  and  whoever  wants  to  be  first  among  you  must  be  your  slave ; 

28  just  as  the  Son  of  man  has  not  come  to  be  served  but  to 

serve, 
and  to  give  his  life  as  a  ransom  for  many." 

Matt.  6:  si-33- 

31  "Do  not  be  troubled,  then,  and  cry,  'What  are  we  to  eat?'  or 
'what   are    we    to    drink?'    or    'how    are   we   to   be    clothed?' 

32  (pagans  make  all  that  their  aim  in  life)    for  your  heavenly 

33  Father    knows    quite    well    you    need    all    that.      Seek    God's 
Realm  and  his  goodness,  and  all  that  will  be  yours  over  and 
above." 

SUGGESTIONS  FOR  PERSONAL  STUDY 

1.  Mark  i :  14-20.     Why  does  Jesus  need  some  men  who  will 
make  Christian  work  their  life  profession? 

2.  Mark   8:    34-37.     What   is    wrong   in   choosing   as   a   life 
work  that  which  will   (i)   require  the  least  effort — a  "snap" — or 
(2)  yield  the  most  money? 

3.  Luke  9:  57-62.     Did  these  men  really  want  a  place  in  the 
task  which  Jesus  was  proposing? 

4.  Mark  10:    17-21.     Why  did  this  young  business  man  not 
line  up  all  the  resources  of  his  life  to  aid  the  cause  of  Jesus  in 
the  world? 

5.  Matt.  20:  20-28.     What  is  the  true  ambition  which  should 
guide  a  man  in  choosing  his  life  work? 

6.  Matt.  6:  31-33.     How  can  a  business  man  obey  the  injunc- 
tion to  "Seek  first  the  Kingdom  of  God"? 

7.  Glance  over  the  week's  readings.     What  are  some  of  the 
Christian  principles  to  follow  as  the  basis   for  choosing  a  life 
work? 

QUESTIONS  FOR  GROUP  DISCUSSION1 

1.  What  would  you  call  the  most  important  life  callings  rep- 
resented in  your  town? 

2.  How  far  can  life  occupations  be  ranked  in  the  order  of  their 
importance  in  the  present  world  task? 

3.  Just  what  relation  have  the  various  life  callings  to  the  pres- 
ent world  need?     For  instance,  specifically,  what  can  a  lawyer, 
a  physician,  a  person  in  business,  a  farmer,  or  a  worker  in  indus- 

1  Questions  for  Group  Discussion  adapted  from  Harris-Robbins,  "A  Challenge 
to  Life  Service." 


126  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

try  do  in  and  through  the  vocation  followed,  to  help?    How  im- 
portant are  a  person's  working  hours  in  the  present  world  task? 

4.  How  far  can  a  person  atone  for  hindering  the  Kingdom  in 
his  business  or  profession  if  he  works  for  it  in  his  spare  hours? 

5.  To    what   extent   is    the   distinction    between    "sacred"    and 
"secular"  in  life  callings  justified? 

6.  What  is  a  "call"?     Which  branches  of  life  work  may  one 
choose  without  a  "call"? 

7.  What   data  is   necessary   for   an   intelligent   decision   as   to 
one's  place  in  the  present  world  task? 

8.  Can  a  person  expect  God's  direction  in  the  decision  of  his 
life  calling?     What  sort  of  guidance  should  he  expect?     How 
can  he  secure  the  guidance? 


CHAPTER  XXV 

What  Is  a  Fair  Chance  for  All? 

Jesus  Shows  His  Concern  for  the  Weak  and  Oppressed 

Immigrants  have  been  drawn  to  America  as  a  land  of  oppor- 
tunity, where  every  person  has  a  fair  chance.  Much  of  the 
present  unrest  comes  because  social  groupings  feel  they  are 
not  having  a  fair  chance.  A  primary  concern  of  the  Christian 
movement  has  been  the  relief  of  oppression.  In  building  a  new 
world,  a  fundamental  necessity  is  a  fair  chance  for  all.  From 
the  Christian  point  of  view,  what  constitutes  a  fair  chance? 
How  can  we  ensure  it  to  all? 

BIBLE  REFERENCES 
Luke  i:  46-55. 

46  Then  Mary  said 

"My  soul^  magnifies  the  Lord, 

47  My  spirit  has  joy  in  God  my  Saviour: 

48  for  he  has  considered  the  humiliation  of  his  servant. 
From  this  time  forth  all  generations  will  call  me  blessed, 

49  for  He  who  is  Mighty  has  done  great  things  for  me. 
His  name  is  holy, 

50  his  mercy  is  on  generation  after  generation, 
for  those  who  reverence  him. 

51  He  has  done  a  deed  of  might  with  his  arm, 
he  has  scattered  the  proud  with  their  purposes, 

52  princes  he  has  dethroned  and  the  poor  he  has  uplifted, 

53  he   has   satisfied   the   hungry   with   good   things   and   sent 

the  rich  azvay  empty. 

54  He  has  succoured  his  servant  Israel, 
mindful  of  his  mercy — 

55  as  he  promised  our  fathers, 

to  have  mercy  .on  Abraham  and  his  offspring  for  ever." 

Luke  6:  20-26. 

20  Then,  raising  his  eyes  he  looked  at  his  disciples  and  said: 
"Blessed  are  you  poor ! 

the  Realm  of  God  is  yours. 
127 


128  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

21  Blessed  are  you  who  hunger  to-day! 

you  shall  be  satisfied. 
Blessed  are  you  who  weep  to-day! 
you  shall  laugh. 

22  Blessed  are  you  when  men  will  hate  you, 

when  they  will  excommunicate  you  and  denounce  you 
and  defame  you  as  wicked  on  account  of  the  Son 
of  man; 

23  rejoice  on  that  day  and  leap  for  joy! 
rich  is  your  reward  in  heaven — 

for  their  fathers  did  the  very  same  to  the  prophets. 

24  But  woe  to  you  rich  folk ! 

you  get  all  the  comforts  you  will  ever  get. 

25  Woe  to  you  who  have  your  fill  to-day! 

you  will  be  hungry. 
Woe  to  you  who  laugh  to-day! 
you  will  wail  and  weep. 

26  Woe  to  you  when  all  men  speak  well  of  you ! 

that  is  just  what  their  fathers  did  to  the  false  prophets." 

Mark  10:  13-16. 

13  Now    people    brought    children    for    him    to    touch    them, 

14  and  the  disciples  checked  them;  but  Jesus  was  angry  when 
he   saw  this,   and  he   said  to  them,   "Let   the   children   come 
to  me,  do  not  stop  them :  the  Realm  of  God  belongs  to  such 

15  as  these.     I  tell  you  truly,  whoever  will  not   submit  to  the 
Reign    of    God   like    a   child   will   never   get   into    it   at    all." 

16  Then  he  put  his  arms  round  them,  laid  his  hands  on  them 
and  blessed  them. 

Luke  15:  1-8. 

1  Now    the    taxgatherers    and    sinners    were    all    approach- 

2  ing    him    to    listen    to    him,     but    the    Pharisees    and    the 
scribes    complained,    "He    welcomes    sinners    and    eats    along 

4  with    them !"      So    he    told    them    this    parable,    "Which    of 
you  with  a  hundred   sheep,   if  he  loses  one,   does  not  leave 
the  ninety-nine  in  the  desert  and  go  after  the  lost  one   till 

5  he  finds  it?     When  he  finds  it  he  puts  it  on  his  shoulders 

6  with  joy,  and  when  he  gets  home  he  gathers  his  friends  and 
neighbours :  'Rejoice  with  me,'  he  says  to  them,  'for  I  have 

7  found  the   sheep   I   lost/     So,   I  tell  you,  there  will  be  joy 
in    heaven    over    a    single    sinner    who    repents,    more    than 

8  over  ninety-nine  good  people  who  do  not  need  to  repent." 

Luke  16:  19-21. 

19  There  was  a  rich  man,  clad  in  purple  and  fine  linen,  who 

20  lived  sumptuously  every  day.     Outside  his  door  lay  a  poor 


WHAT  IS  A  FAIR  CHANCE  FOR  ALL*  129 

21  man  called   Lazarus ;  he  was  a  mass  of  ulcers,   and   fain  to 
eat  up  the  crumbs  that  fell  from  the  rich  man's  table. 

SUGGESTIONS   FOR  PERSONAL   STUDY 

1.  Luke    i :    46-55.     How    would    cradle    songs    of    this    sort 
influence  the  interests  of  Jesus  in  the  poor  and  oppressed? 

2.  Luke   6:    20-26.     How   much   do  you    feel   the   hope   of   a 
better  chance  in  the  ordinary  things  of  life  influenced  the  com- 
mon people  to   follow  Jesus?     When  is  this  better  chance   for 
the  poor,  the  hungry,  and  the  persecuted  coming?     How? 

3.  Mark   10:    13-16.     How    far   does   a   man   reveal  his   real 
attitude  toward  people  by  the  way  he  treats   children?     What 
groups    of    children   are   not   having   a    fair    chance   in    modern 
life?     In  what  regards?     Why  is  it  so  difficult  to  prevent  child 
labor?     What  is  a  fair  chance  for  a  child? 

4.  Luke    15:    1-8.     Does   society   today   really  give   a  person 
who  is  down  and  out  a  fair  chance  to  get  back  on  his  feet? 

5.  What   groups   of   people   have   little    chance    to   be    decent, 
because  of  their  surroundings?     What  attention  did  Jesus  give 
to  removing  people's  handicaps  ?  What  is  modern  society  doing  to 
remove  and  prevent  the  handicaps  which  disease  and  deformity 
bring  into  the  world?    In  how  far  is  the  degree  of  society's  inter- 
est in  its  helpless  and  weaker  members  a  fair  test  of  its  Christ- 
likeness? 

6.  Luke  1 6:   19-21.     What  was  it  in  the  rich  man's  attitude 
toward  the  beggar  which  Jesus  seems  to  condemn?     Read  the 
entire  story   (see  page  83). 

7.  Think  over  this  week's  readings  and  state  your  general  im- 
pression of  Jesus'  viewpoint. 

QUESTIONS  FOR  GROUP   DISCUSSION 

1.  Think  of  your  own  town  or  state  or  nation:     What  per- 
sons   or    groups    do    you    know    who    have    less    than    a    fair 
chance?     In  what  respects?    What  persons  or  groups  have  more 
than  a  fair  chance?     In  what  respects? 

2.  How  would  you   say  Jesus'  idea   of  a   fair  chance   differs 
from  the  ordinary  standard? 

a.  What   was   Jesus'   attitude   toward   children?     Toward   the 
down   and   out?     Mark   10:    13-16    (Section   3).     Luke   15:    1-8 
(Section  4). 

b.  Just  how  much  attention   did  Jesus  give  to  removing  the 
handicaps  of  people?     What  does  this  show  as  to  his  idea  of  a 
fair  chance? 

c.  Read  Luke  6:20-26  (Section  2).    Would  you  or  would  you 


130  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

not  say  the  crowds  followed  him  because  of  a  hope  for  a  better 
chance  in  the  ordinary  things  of  life?    Why? 

d.  Why  did  the  common  people  hear  him  gladly  and  those  in 
places  of  authority  oppose  him? 

e.  What  evidence  do  you  find  of  Jesus*  attitude  toward  those 
who  were  unsympathetic  with   human   need? 

3.  Jesus    nowhere    states    what    he    means    by    a    fair    chance. 
Judging  by  the  incidents   of   this   week  and  your  study  of   his 
life,  what  would  you  think  Jesus'  ideal  of  a  fair  chance  might 
be? 

4.  If  a  member  of  the  labor  group  asked  you  what  was  Jesus' 
ideal  of  a  fair  chance,  what  would  you  tell  him?     What  would 
you  tell  a  Negro  or  a   foreigner?     If  either  replied  that  there 
was  no  such  chance  in  America,  what  would  you  say? 

5.  How  far  is  there  a  fair  chance  for  all  in  industry?     How 
far  would  you  say  that  the  goal  of  the  labor  group  is  a   fair 
chance  for  all  or  special  advantage  for  certain  groups?     Why? 

6.  Why  do  many  employers  fight  labor's  having  a  share  in  the 
profits  of  the  industry?    In  the  light  of  Jesus'  ideal  what  do  you 
think  of  industrial   democracy?     Suppose  industrial   democracy 
lessens  the  efficiency  of  industry,  would  or  would  it  not  still  be 
justified? 

7.  Which  will  bring  fairness  in  the  present  situation :  the  rais- 
ing of  the  income  and  standards  of  living  or  the  equalizing  of 
income  and  living  standards? 

8.  How  far  have  the  less  favored  races  in  America,  such  as  the 
Negro  and  immigrant,  an  equal  opportunity  with  others?    What 
makes  the  difference? 

9.  How    does    a    fair    chance    for   everybody   compare    in    an 
autocracy  with  a  democracy?     In  a  non-Christian  with  a  Chris- 
tian country? 

10.  Just  how  much  equality  of  opportunity  is  there  in  America? 
To   what  extent   is   our  country  a   democracy?     What   are   the 
most  outstanding  changes  necessary  in  American  life  if  a   fair 
chance  for  all  is  to  be  secured? 

11.  How  much   of   missionary  work   is  based   on   saving  the 
souls  of  weaker  peoples,  and  how  much  is  based  on  Jesus'  con- 
fidence in  the  real  possibilities  of  people? 

12.  Why  should  weaker  nations  have  an  equal  opportunity  with 
stronger  nations?     To   what   extent   should    President   Wilson's 
proposal  of  an  equal  chance  for  weaker  nations  be  extended  to 
those   in   the   Far   East,   the   Near    East,    South   America,    and 
Africa? 


CHAPTER    XXVI 

What  Is  a  Fair  Income  ? 

Jesus'  Attitude  on  Money  Perplexes  the  Privileged 

How  much  money  has  a  Christian  a  right  to?  This  is  a  real 
question  today.  Some  say:  If  he  makes  his  money  in  accordance 
with  present  standards  of  honesty,  and  gives  generously  to  good 
causes,  then  his  growing  prosperity  is  an  evidence  of  the  bless- 
ing of  the  Lord ;  and  he  should  be  allowed  to  make  as  much  as 
he  can.  Others  reply:  The  present  situation  gives  some  men 
an  unfair  advantage  and  furnishes  them  the  privileges  of 
wealth  and  the  joy  of  giving  far  beyond  that  which  is  justified 
by  their  contribution  to  society,  and  to  the  great  disadvantage 
of  thousands  of  others. 

Jesus  had  some  things  to  say  in  regard  to  money  which  did  not 
please  the  privileged  in  his  day.  From  the  viewpoint  of  Jesus 
when  is  an  earning  legitimate  ? 

BIBLE   REFERENCES 
Luke  19:  i-io. 

1  Then    he    entered    Jericho.      And    as    he    passed    through 

2  it,    there    was    a    man    called    Zacchaeus,    the    head    of    the 

3  taxgatherers,   a  wealthy  man,   who   tried  to   see   what  Jesus 
was    like ;    but    he  could    not,    on    account    of    the    crowd — 

4  for    he    was    small    of    stature.     So    he    ran    forward    and 
climbed   into   a  sycomore.  tree  to  get  a  sight  of  him,  as  he 

5  was   to  pass   that   road.     But   when   Jesus   reached   the   spot 
he  looked  up  and  said  to  him,    "Zacchaeus,   come   down   at 

6  once,  for  I  must  stay  at  your  house  to-day."    He  came  down 

7  at    once    and    welcomed    him    gladly.      But    when    they    saw 
this,    everyone    began    to    mutter    that    he    had    gone    to    be 

8  the   guest  of   a  sinner.     So   Zacchaeus   stopped   and   said  to 
the  Lord,   "I  will  ,give  the  half  of  all  I  have,   Lord,   to  the 
poor,   and   if   I  have   cheated   anybody  I   will  give   him  back 

9  four  times  as  much."     And  Jesus  said  of  him,  "To-day  sal- 
vation  has   come   to   this   house,    since   Zacchaeus   here    is   a 

10  son  of  Abraham." 

Luke  18:  18-30. 

18  Then  a  ruler  asked  him,  "Good  teacher,  what  am  I  to  do 

19  to  inherit  life  eternal?"     Jesus   said  to  him,   "Why  call  me 


132  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

20  'good'?     No  one  is  good,  no  one  but  God.     You  knovv  the 
commands:  do  not  commit  adultery,  do  not  kill,  do  not  steal, 
do  not  bear  false  witness,  honour  your  father  and  mother." 

21  He    said,    "I    have    observed    all    these    commands    from    my 

22  youth."     When  Jesus  heard  this  he  said  to  him,  "You  lack 
one    thing    more;    sell    all    you    have,    distribute    the    money 
among  the  poor  and  you  will  have  treasure  in  heaven ;  then 

23  come   and    follow    me."      But   when   he   heard   that,    he    was 

24  vexed,  for  he  was  extremely  rich.     So  Jesus  looked  at  him 
and    said,    "How   difficult   it   is    for   those   who   have   money 

25  to  enter  the  Realm  of  God !     Why,  it  is  easier  for  a  camel 
to  get  through  a  needle's   eye   than    for  a  rich   man  to  get 

26  into  the  Realm  of  God."     His  hearers  said,   "Then  whoever 

27  can  be   saved?"     He   said,   'What  is   impossible   for  men   is 

28  possible    for    God."      Peter    said,    ""Well,    we    have    left    our 

29  homes   and   followed   you !"     He   said   to   them,    "I   tell   you 
truly,  no  one  has  left  home  or  wife  or  brothers  or  parents 

30  or  children  for  the  sake  of  the  Realm  of  God,  who  does  not 
receive  ever  so  much  more  in  this  present  world,  and  in  the 
world  to  come  life  eternal." 

Luke  12:  13-21. 

13  A  man  out  of  the  crowd  said  to  him,   "Teacher,  tell   my 

14  brother  to  give   me   my   share   of   our   inheritance" ;   but   he 
said  to  him,  "Man,  who  made  me  a  judge  or  arbitrator  over 

15  your  affairs?"     Then  he  said  to  them,  "See  and  keep  clear 
of  covetousness  in  every  shape  and   form,    for  a  man's  life 
is  not  part  of  his  possessions  because  he  has  ample  wealth." 

16  And   he   told   them    a  parable.     "A    rich   man's    estate    bore 

17  heavy  crops.    .So  he   debated,   'What   am   I  to   do?     I   have 

18  no   room  to   store   my  crops.'     And   he   said,   'This   is   what 
I  will  do.     I  will  pull  down  my  granaries  and  build  larger 

19  ones,  where  I  can  store  all  my  produce  and  my  goods.     And 
I  will  say  to  my  soul,  "Soul,  you  have  ample  stores  laid  up 
for  many  a  year ;  take  your  ease,  eat,  drink  and  be  merry." ' 

20  But   God   said   to    him,    'Foolish   man,    this   very   night   your 
soul  is   wanted;   and   who   will  get  all  you  have  prepared?' 

21  So  fares  the  man  who  lays  up  treasure  for  himself  instead 
of  gaining  the  riches  of  God." 

Luke  12:  22,  29-32. 

22  To  his  disciples  he  said, 
"Therefore  I  tell  you, 

do  not  trouble  about  what  you  are  to  eat  in  life, 

nor  about  what  you  are  to  put  on  your  body    .     .     . 

29  So   do   not   seek    food   and   drink   and   be    worried;   pagans 

30  make   food   and   drink   their   aim   in   life,   but  your   Father 


WHAT   IS   A    FAIR   INCOME?  133 

31  knows  quite  well  you  need  that;  only  seek  his  Realm,  and 

32  it    will    be    yours    over    and    above.      Fear    not,    you    little 
flock,  for  your  Father  is  delighted  to  give  you  the  Realm." 

Matt.  6:  19-24. 

19  "Store  up  no  treasures  for  yourselves  on  earth, 

where  moth  and  rust  corrode, 
where  thieves  break  in  and  steal : 

20  store  up  treasures  for  yourselves  in  heaven, 

where  neither  moth  nor  rust  corrode, 
where  thieves  do  not  break  in  and  steal. 

21  For  where  your  treasure  lies, 

your  heart  will  lie  there  too. 

22  The  eye  is  the  lamp  of  the  body: 
so,  if  your  Eye  is  generous,    ' 

the  whole  of  your  body  will  be  illumined, 

23  but  if  your  Eye  is  selfish, 

the  whole  of  your  body  will  be  darkened. 
And  if  your  very  light  turns  dark, 
then — what  a  darkness  it  is ! 

24  No  one  can  serve  two  masters : 

either  he  will  hate  one  and  love  the  other,  ^ 

or  else  he  will  stand  by  the  one  and  despise  the  other- — 
you  cannot  serve  both  God  and  Mammon." 

SUGGESTIONS    FOR    PERSONAL    STUDY 

1.  Luke   19:    i-io.     The  publicans  were  Jews  who   collected 
the  Roman  taxes,   getting  a  high  per   cent   for  this   distasteful 
work  and  often  working  a  big  graft  as  well.     They  were  much 
despised  by  the  Jews.     Notice  when  this  rich  tax  collector  came 
in  contact  with  Jesus  he  offered  to  make  good  to  the  extent  of 
four  hundred  per   cent  any  money  which  he  had   exacted  un- 
lawfully.    Do  you  know  of  any  man  who  has  made  money  by 
profiteering  who  has  been  willing  to  make  good  to  this  amount? 
Just  how   far   should   the  public  hold   a  man,   who  has  gotten 
money  by  wrong  practices,  to  make  good?     Why  do  we  not  re- 
quire it? 

2.  Luke    18:    18-23.     Most    people    in    reading   this    incident 
say  Jesus  did  not  really  mean  that  the  man  should  give  away 
his  money.     What  do  you  think  about  it?     When  do  you   feel 
that  the  possession  of  money  is  contrary  to  the  ideal  of  Jesus? 

3.  Luke    18:    24-30.     Why   is    it   hard    for   those    who    have 
riches  to  enter  into  the  Kingdom  of  God?     What  do  you  think 
of  this  statement? 

4.  Luke    12:    13-21.     Why  did  Jesus   object  to  the   farmer's 
hoarding   his    wealth?     When   is    it   wrong   to   lay   up    wealth? 


134  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

Notice  Jesus'  statement :  "See  and  keep  clear  of  covetousness  in 
every  shape  and  form,  for  a  man's  life  is  not  part  of  his  pos- 
sessions because  he  has  ample  wealth." 

5.  Luke  12:  22,  29-32.     What  do  you  think  Jesus  means  when 
he  says  "Do  not  make  food  and  clothing  your  object  in  life"? 

6.  Matt.  6:  19-24.     When  are  God  and  money  in  competition? 

7.  What  was  Jesus'  attitude  toward  money?     What  were  his 
principles  regarding  money? 

QUESTIONS  FOR  GROUP  DISCUSSION 

1.  Why  do  men  set  out  to  make  money? 

2.  WThat  examples  of  profiteering  have  you  known?     What  is 
profiteering? 

3.  How  much  money  has  an  individual  a  right  to  make?     On 
what  principle  would  you  determine  when  earnings  are  legiti- 
mate? 

4.  Let  us  see  how  Jesus  helped  rich  men  in  his  day  to  decide 
the  problem  of  accumulating  wealth : 

a.  Luke  19:  i-io  (Section  i).    Zacchaeus  had  evidently  made 
some  of   his   money  illegitimately.     What  did   he   do   with  this 
money  when  he  came  in  contact  with  Jesus?     Why? 

b.  Luke   12:   13-21    (Section  4).     The  man  out  of  the  crowd 
wanted  Jesus  to  help  him  get  his  part  of  the  inheritance.     What 
did  Jesus  reply?    What  point  did  he  make  about  the  farmer  who 
hoarded  his  grain?     When  has  a  man  a  right  to  become  a  non- 
producer? 

c.  Luke  18:  18-30  (Sections  2,  3).      The  rich  young  man  had 
lived  a  clean,  moral  life.     Why  did  Jesus  ask  him  to  give  away 
his  money? 

d.  Matt.   6:    19-24    (Section  6).     What   does   Jesus   mean   by 
"store  up  treasures  in  heaven,"  "ye  cannot  serve  God  and  mam- 
mon"? 

5.  From  these  stories  when  would  you  say  Jesus  objected  to 
men's  possessing  wealth  ?    Where  do  you  think  Jesus  would  draw 
the   line   between   legitimate   earnings   and   profiteering?     When 
does  the  accumulation  of  wealth  by  an  individual  become  con- 
trary to  the  ideal  of  Jesus? 

6.  If  a  person  is  willing  to  make  his  money  within  the  limits 
of  the  present  standards  of  honesty  and  to  give  of  it  generously 
to  good  causes,  is  he  then  justified,  from  the  Christian  viewpoint, 
in  accumulating  large  wealth?     Why  or  why  not?     How  far  is 
his  prosperity  an  evidence  of  his  ability,  how  far  has  he  gotten 


WHAT   IS   A    FAIR    INCOME?  135 

it  because  the  present   organization  of   business   gives   him  an 
unfair  advantage? 

7.  Some  say  good  causes  could  not  be  financed  without  wealthy 
men's  money;  others  reply  that  the  millionaire  is  really  robbing 
many  men  of  smaller  income  of  their  rightful  share  of  wealth 
and  of  the  joy  of  giying  to  these  enterprises  themselves.     What 
do  you  think  about  it? 

8.  On   Jesus'   principle    what   limit,    if   any,    would   you   place 
on   the   minimum   and   maximum   income   that   a  person   had   a 
right  to  receive?     How  far  should  this  minimum  and  maximum 
be  left  to  the  individual  conscience;  how  far  should  it  be  regu- 
lated by  society? 

9.  Should  or  should  not  a  man  be  required  to  give  to  society 
service    equivalent    to    money    received?     Would   this    apply   to 
money  inherited  as  well  as  money  earned?    When  has  a  man  of 
independent  income  a  right  to  live  a  life  of  leisure? 

10.  When  has  a  nation  a  right,  according  to  Jesus'  standard, 
to  control  its  natural  resources  or  its  financial  credit  to  the  dis- 
advantage of  other  nations? 

11.  Just  how  would  you  state  the  Christian  ideal  in  the  making 
and  use  of  money? 


CHAPTER  XXVII 

Is  Democracy  Possible? 

Jesus  Shows  His  Confidence  in  the  Common  People 

Democracy  is  difficult  to  define;  but  the  term  represents  in 
the  world  today  a  greater  or  less  belief  that  the  people  can  be 
trusted  with  their  affairs  and  that  the  "common  man"  should 
"come  into  his  full  rights  as  a  member  of  society."  How  far 
can  the  people  be  trusted?  What  restrictions  should  be  placed 
upon  democracy?  How  far  can  we  go  with  Jesus  in  his  confi- 
dence in  people? 

BIBLE   REFERENCES 
Mark  i :  16-20. 

16  Now  as  he  passed  along  the  sea  of  Galilee  he  saw  Simon 
and    Simon's    brother   Andrew    netting   fish   in    the    sea — for 

17  they  were  fishermen;  so  Jesus  said  to  them,  "Come,   follow 

18  me    and    I    will    make    you    fish    for    men."     At    once    they 

19  dropped  their  nets  and  went  after  him.     Then  going  on   a 
little   further  he   saw  James  the   son   of   Zebedaeus   and   his 
brother   John ;    they   too   were   in   their   boat,    mending  their 

20  nets;    he    called    them    at    once,    and    they    left    their    father 
Zebedaeus   in   the   boat  with   the   crew   and   went   to   follow 
him. 

Mark  2:  13-17. 

13  Then  he  went  out  again  by  the  seaside,  and  all  the  crowd 

14  came  to  him  and  he  taught  them.     As  he  passed  along  he 
saw  Levi  the  son   of  Alphaeus  sitting  at  the  tax-office ;   he 
said  to  him,   "Follow  me,"  and  he  rose  and   followed  him. 

15  Now  Levi  was  at  table  in  his  own  house,  and  he  had  many 
taxgatherers    and    sinners    as    guests    along   with   Jesus    and 
his    disciples — for    there    were    many    of    them    among    his 

16  followers.     So  when  some  scribes  of  the  Pharisees  saw  he 
was   eating  with   sinners   and  taxgatherers   they   said  to   his 
disciples,    "Why    does    he    eat    and    drink    with    taxgatherers 

17  and  sinners?"    On  hearing  this,  Jesus  said  to  them, 

136 


IS  DEMOCRACY  POSSIBLE?  137 

"Those  who  are  strong  have  no  need  of  a  doctor,  but  those 
who  are  ill: 
I  have  not  come  to  call  just  men  but  sinners." 

Mark  6:  1-6. 

1  Leaving   there   he   went   to   his   native   place,    followed   by 

2  his   disciples.     When   the  sabbath   came,   he   began    to   teach 
in    the    synagogue,    and    the    large    audience    was    astounded. 
"Where    did    he    get    all    this?"    they  said.     "What    is    the 
meaning  of   this   wisdom   he   is   endowed   with?     And  these 

3  miracles,    too,    that    his    hand    perform!      Is    this    not    the 
joiner,  the  son  of  Mary  and  the  brother  of  James  and  Joses 
and   Judas   and    Simon?      Are   not   his    sisters    settled    here 

4  among   us?"     So   they   were   repelled   by   him.     Then   Jesus 
said  to  them,  "A  prophet  never  goes  without  honour  except 
in    his    native    place    and    among    his    kinsfolk    and    in    his 

5  home."     There  he  could  not  do  any  miracle,   beyond  laying 

6  his  hands  on  a  few  sick  people  and  curing  them.     He  was 
astonished  at  their  lack  of  faith. 

Luke  10:  i,  17,  18. 

I  After  that  the  Lord  commissioned  other  seventy  dis- 
ciples, sending  them  in  front  of  him  two  by  two  to 
every  town  and  place  that  he  intended  to  visit  himself.  .  .  . 

17  The  seventy  came  back  with  joy.     "Lord,"  they  said,  "the 

18  very  daemons    obey  us   in   your   name."     He   said   to   them, 
"Yes,    I    watched    Satan    fall    from   heaven    like   a   flash    of 
lightning. 

Matt.  28:  16-20. 

16  Now  the  eleven  disciples  went  to  Galilee,  to  the  hill  where 

17  Jesus    had    arranged    to    meet    them.      When    they    saw    him 

18  they   worshipped   him,   though    some    were   in    doubt.     Then 
Jesus  came  forward  to  them  and   said,   "Full  authority  has 

19  been   given   to   me   in   heaven   and   on   earth ;    go   and   make 
disciples    of   all   nations,    baptize   them    in    the   name   of    the 

20  Father  and  the  Son  and  the  holy  Spirit,  and  teach  them  to 
obey  all  the  commands  I  have  laid  on  you.     And  I  will  be 
with  you  all  the  time,   to  the   very  end  of  the  world." 

SUGGESTIONS    FOR    PERSONAL    STUDY 

1.  Mark  i:  16-20.     If  you  had  been  living  in  Palestine  what 
hope  would  you  have  had -for  a  world  enterprise  started  with 
ignorant  fishermen  as  the  leaders? 

2.  Mark  2:  13-17.     Why  did  Jesus  have  confidence  that  pub- 
licans and  sinners  would  "make  good"  in  his  cause? 


138  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

3.  Mark  6:  1-6.     Why  did  the  people  of  his  home  town  doubt 
Jesus'  ability  to  be  a  great  leader?     Where  do  you  find  similar 
attitudes  today? 

4.  Luke   10:   i,   17,   18.    What  responsibility  did  Jesus  place 
upon  his  disciples  for  the  extension  of  his  cause?     Would  you 
have  been  willing  to  trust  them  this  far? 

5.  John's  gospel  comments :    "Upon  this  many  of  his  disciples 
went  back,  and  walked  no  more  with  him"    (John  6:  66).     In 
your  experience,  how  much  can  be  depended  on  the  rank  and  file 
of  the  people  holding  steady,  when  the  odds  commence  to  go 
against  an  enterprise? 

6.  Review    the    account    of    Jesus'    trial    and    crucifixion    (see 
Chapter  XX).     How  much  dependence  was  Jesus  able  to  place 
upon  his  followers  in  the  days  when  severe  issues  faced  him? 

7.  Matt.    28:    16-20.     What    evidence    have    you    today    that 
Jesus'  confidence  in  his  little  band  of  followers  was  justifiable? 

QUESTIONS  FOR  GROUP   DISCUSSION 

1.  When   the    forefathers    founded   a   republic   in    the    United 
States  what  restrictions  did  they  place  upon  the  power  of  the 
people?    Why?    Are  those  restrictions  still  necessary  and  wise? 
Are  you  in   favor   of  placing  upon   the  people  greater   or   less 
responsibility  for  deciding  the  nation's  welfare?     Why? 

2.  When  Jesus  started  his  cause,  what  sort  of  people  did  he 
choose  as  his  followers?     Why  did  he  put  his  dependence  upon 
folks  of  this  sort?    What  do  you  think  of  his  method?    Was  his 
confidence  justified? 

3.  Some  say  there  is  no  hope  of  progress  except  as  leaders 
are  found  who  can  do  the  planning  and  thinking  for  the  people 
and  show  them  the  way;  others  feel  the  difficulty  at  present  is 
that  by  the  use  of  propaganda  a  few  leaders  are  seeking  "to  make 
up  the  people's  mind  for  them"  and  what  is  needed  is  a  greater 
chance  for  the  people  to  think  and  act  for  themselves. 

a.  What  is  your  opinion? 

b.  Would    a    larger    opportunity    for    free    discussion    and    a 
great   amount   of    responsibility   placed    on    the   people    help    or 
hinder  the  progress  of  the  nation  and  the  world? 

4.  Why  is  it  so  difficult  to  get  the  people  to  take  responsibility 
in  the  Church,  in  movements  for  the  betterment  of  politics,  and 
in  other  public  enterprises?     If  the  people  really  had  more  part 
in  deciding  what  should  be  done,  do  you  or  do  you  not  think 
they  would  be  more  ready  to  take  their  share  in  community  and 
national  life? 

5.  With  which  of  the   following  do  you   find  yourself   most 


IS  DEMOCRACY  POSSIBLE?  139 

nearly  in   agreement  and  why?     Which   of   these  proposals   do 
you  feel  is  the  more  practicable? 

a.  There  will  be  greater  happiness   if   the   more   capable   are 
allowed  to  accumulate  wealth  without  restriction  and  then  bestow 
blessings    upon    the    people    through    libraries,    parks,    endowed 
institutions,  and  the  like. 

b.  The    greater    happiness    will    come    if    society    restricts    the 
accumulations    of    the    few    and    concerns    itself    with    giving   a 
larger  opportunity  for  everyone  to  attain  and  contribute  to  the 
welfare  and  happiness  of  the  common  good. 

6.  In  the  education  of  children  in  home,   school,  and  church, 
adults  for  the  most  part  decide  what  is  good  for  children  and  see 
that  they  learn  or  do  as  the  adults  think  best. 

a.  Would  you   agree   with   those   who   advocate   that   children 
shall  have  a  larger  share  in  the  management  and  working  out 
of  their  education?     Why  or  why  not? 

b.  In  what  regards  would  greater  democracy  in  the  manage- 
ment of  home,  church,  and  school  be  possible? 

c.  If  children  were  given  more  chance  to  decide  and  act  for 
themselves,  would  it  be  dangerous  to  their  welfare  or  would  it 
make  them  better  citizens?     Why  do  you  think  so? 

7.  What  restrictions,  if  any,  should  be  placed  upon  the  public 
proclamation   and   discussion   of   "dangerous"  ideas   or  policies? 
Can  we  trust  the  people  to  decide  the  truth  or  falsity  of  radical 
proposals,  or  must  restrictions  be  placed  upon  their  dissemina- 
tion?    How  far  do  you  believe  in  the  right  of  free  speech  and 
assembly? 

8.  In  the  light  of  Jesus'  ideals  what  do  you  think  of  industrial 
democracy?     What  share,  if  any,  should  the  workmen  be  given 
in  the  control  of  industry?     Why? 

9.  What   opportunity   has    an    individual   citizen   to    make   his 
convictions  felt  in  the  political  action  of  the  state  or  the  nation? 
To  what  extent  does  the  citizen  give  away  to  political  leaders 
the  right  to  decide  what  is  good  for  him?     Does  this  represent 
democracy  ?     Why,  or  why  not  ? 

10.  What  is  democracy?     In  how  far  is  it1  something  that  can 
be  guaranteed  once   for  all  as  in  our  constitution ;   in  how   far 
does  it  depend  upon  the  continued  conscientious  efforts  of  the 
people?     When  is  democracy  achieved? 


CHAPTER  XXVIII 

What  Hope  Is  There  that  the  World 
Can  Be  Made  Christian? 

Jesus'  Emphasis  on  Changing  Wrong  Conditions 

There  are  two  viewpoints  regarding  the  Christianization  of 
the  world.  One  group  says :  "Save  the  individual  and  then 
social  and  business  relations  will  be  Christian."  The  other  group 
replies :  "An  individual  Christianity  does  not  guarantee  Chris- 
tianized economic  and  political  conditions.  Further,  it  would 
be  easier  to  reach  individuals  if  social  relations  were  not  so 
unchristian." 

One  group  claims :  "The  world  is  growing  worse.  There  is 
no  hope  of  Christianizing  the  world.  All  that  can  be  done  is  to 
rescue  individuals.  Indeed,  Jesus  did  not  intend  his  Gospel  to 
apply  to  social  relations."  The  other  group  replies :  "We  have 
made  remarkable  progress,  considering  the  little  attention  that 
has  been  given  to  social  Christianity.  Christianity  has  proved  it 
can  save  individuals.  It  will  prove  equally  powerful  in  society, 
once  Christians  dare  really  to  try  to  make  business,  political,  and 
international  relations  Christian." 

With  which  group  do  you  find  yourself  most  in  agreement? 
What  changes  must  be  made,  if  the  world  is  to  be  Christian? 
What  hope  is  there  that  the  world  can  really  be  made  Christian? 

BIBLE   REFERENCES 

Luke  3:  10-14. 

10  The    crowds    asked    him,    "Then    what    are    we    to    do?" 

11  He   replied,    "Let   everyone   who   possesses   two    shirts    share 
with  him  who  has  none,  and  let  him  who  has  food  do  like- 

12  wise."     Taxgatherers    also   came   to   get   baptized,    and    they 

13  said   to   him,    "Teacher,   what  are   we   to   do?"     He   said   to 

14  them,    "Never   exact   more   than   your   fixed   rate."     Soldiers 
also   asked   him,    "And   what   are   we   to   do?"     He   said   to 
them,   "Never  extort   money,   never  lay  a   false  charge,   but 
be  content  with  your  pay." 

140 


CAN  WORLD  BE  MADE  CHRISTIAN?  141 

Matt,  ii :  20-24. 

20  Then  he  proceeded  to  upbraid  the  towns  where  his  many 
miracles   had   been   performed,   because   they   would   not   re- 

21  pent.     "Woe   to   you,    Khorazin !      Woe    to   you,    Bethsaida ! 
Had  the  miracles  performed  in  you  been  performed  in  Tyre 
and  Sidon,  they  would  have  repented  long  ago  in  sackcloth 

22  and  ashes.    I  tell  you  this,  it  will  be  more  bearable  for  Tyre 

23  and  Sidon  on  the  day  of  judgment  than  for  you.     And  you, 
O  Capharnahum!     Exalted  to  heaven?   No,  you  will  sink  to 
Hades! — for  if  the  miracles  performed  in  you  had  been  per- 
formed in    Sodom,    Sodom   would  have   lasted   to   this   day. 

24  I  tell  you,  it  will  be  more  bearable  for  Sodom  on  the  day 
of  judgment  than  for  you." 

Matt.  20:  20-28. 

20  Then   the  mother   of   the   sons   of   Zebedaeus   came  up  to 

21  him  with  her  sons,  praying  him  for  a  favour.     He  said  to 
her,  "What  do  you  want?"     She  said,  "Give  orders  that  my 
two  sons  are  to  sit  at  your  right  hand  and  at  your  left  in 

22  your  Realm."     Jesus  replied,   "You  do  not  know   what  you 
are  asking.     Can  you  drink  the  cup  I  am  going  to  drink?" 

23  They  said  to   him,   "We   can."     "You   shall   drink   my  cup," 
said  Jesus,  "but  it  is  not  for  me  to  grant  seats  at  my  right 
hand   and   at  my  left ;   these  belong  to   the  men   for   whom 

24  they   have    been    destined   by   my   Father."     When    the    ten 

25  heard   of   this,    they   were    angry   at   the   two   brothers,    but 
Jesus  called  them  and  said, 

"You  know  the  rulers   of   the   Gentiles   lord  it  over  them, 
and  their  great  men  overbear  them: 

26  not  so  with  you. 

Whoever    wants    to    be    great   among   you    must   be   your 
servant, 

27  and  whoever  wants  to  be  first  among  you  must  be  your 

slave ; 

28  just  as  the  Son  of  man  has  not  come  to  be  served  but  to 

serve, 

and  to  give  his  life  as  a  ransom  for  many." 
Matt.  23: 1-33.     See  page  96. 
Luke  ii :  29-32. 

29  As   the   crowds   were  thronging  to   him,   he  proceeded   to 
say, 

"This  is  an  evil  generation :  it  demands  a  Sign, 

but  no   Sign   will  be  given  to   it  except  the   Sign   of 
Jonah ; 

30  for  as  Jonah  was  a  Sign  to  the  Ninivites, 

so  shall  the  Son  of  man  be  to  this  generation. 


142  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

31  The  queen  of  the  South  will  rise  at  the  judgment  with 

the  men  of  this  generation  and  condemn  them ; 
for  she  came  from  the  ends  of  the  earth  to  listen  to 

the  wisdom  of  Solomon, 
and  here  -is  One  greater  than  Solomon. 

32  The  men  of  Ninive  will  rise  at  the  judgment  with  this 

generation  and  condemn  it ; 
for  when  Jonah  preached  they  did  repent, 
and  here  is  One  greater  than  Jonah." 

Luke  4:  1 6-2 1.     See  page  7. 
Matt.  23:  37-39. 

37  "O  Jerusalem,  Jerusalem !   slaying  the  prophets  and   ston- 
ing those  who  have  been  sent  to  you !     How  often  I  would 
fain    have    gathered    your    children    as    a    fowl    gathers    her 

38  brood  under  her  wings !     But  you  would  not  have  it !     See, 

39  your  House  is  left  to  you,  desolate.    For  I  tell  you,  you  will 
never  see  me  again  till  you  say,  Blessed  be  he  who  comes  in 
the  Lord's  name." 


SUGGESTIONS    FOR    PERSONAL    STUDY 

1.  Luke  3:   10-14.     What  did  John  find  wrong  with  the  po- 
licemen  and  the  business   men  ?     What  might  he   notice   today 
that  should  be  changed?     What  unjust  financial  practices   will 
be  impossible  when  the  world  is  Christian? 

2.  Matt,   ii :   20-24.     Jesus  here  condemns  entire  towns   for 
their  attitudes  and  actions    What  difference  have  you  noticed  in 
the  character  and   spirit  of   different  towns  and   cities?     What 
makes  this  difference?     Notice  also  Jesus'  yearning  over  a  city 
(Matt.  23:  37-39)  and  his  condemnation  of  this  generation  (Luke 
ii :  29-32). 

3.  What   were  the   chief   points   in   Jesus'   indictment   against 
the  religious  leaders  of  his  day  ?    (  See  page  Q4ff . )    On  what  ground 
did  he  assume  that  these  men  had  a  common  responsibility  as  a 
group?     What  groups  or  classes  of  society  should  be  thus  con- 
demned today? 

4.  Matt.  20:  20-28.     How  do  political   rulers  today  compare 
in  their  practices  with  the  "rulers  of  the  Gentiles"  in  Jesus'  day? 
How  is  it  possible  to  put  political  leadership  on  the  basis  Jesus 
indicates? 

5.  See  Chapter  I,  which  gives  the  record  of  Jesus'  committing 
himself  to  the  Kingdom  of  God.    To  the  cause  of  the  Kingdom 
of  God  he  gave  himself.    We  have  found  that  for  the  Jews  this 
was  a  social  cause  which  meant  an  ideal  state  of  society  where 
there  would  be  peace,  prosperity,  and  happiness  under  the  rule 


CAN  WORLD  BE  MADE  CHRISTIAN?  143 

of  God.     Did  Jesus  share  the  Jewish  idea  that  the  Kingdom  of 
God  would  represent  ideal  conditions? 

6.  Luke  4:  16-21.     See  page  7  for  the  historical  setting.    Did 
Jesus  in  his  life  follow  out  this  program?    Was  Jesus  interested 
in  righting  the  wrong  of  the  world?    What  is  the  basis  for  your 
answer? 

7.  Review   Chapter   VIII   to   see   what   confidence   Jesus   had 
that  the  Kingdom  of  God  would  triumph.     Do  you  share  his 
confidence?    Why,  or  why  not? 

QUESTIONS  FOR  GROUP  DISCUSSION 

1.  What  are  the  most  Christlike  parts   of  your  town?      (Of 
the  nation  or  the  world?)     What  are  the  most  unchristlike  parts? 
Why  do  you  call  each  Christlike  or  unchristlike  ? 

2.  What  do  you  mean  by  a  part  of  your  town  being  Christian? 
If  a  representative  from  a  non-Christian  country  asked  you  to 
show  him  a  Christlike  home,  a  Christlike  public  school,  a  Christ- 
like  church,  a  Christlike  store,  and  a  Christlike  industrial  plant, 
which  of  these  could  you  show  him?     If  all  the  people  of  your 
town  had  decided  to  become  Christian,  would  it  be  Christlike? 
What  is  the  difference  between  evangelizing  and  Christianizing  a 
town? 

3.  How   do   schools,  manufacturing  concerns,  political  organ- 
izations, towns,  and  nations,  of  which  you  know,  differ  in  reputa- 
tion?    What   determines   the   reputation   of   a   social   grouping? 
Notice  that  Jesus   dealt  with   social  groupings  as   if  they  were 
individuals  and  accountable  for  their  actions.     To  what  extent 
should  social  groups  be  held  accountable  for  their  acts  the  same 
as  individuals? 

4.  What  are  some  of  the  outstanding  wrongs  in  the  life  of 
your  town   which  must  be   righted?     What  were   some  of  the 
wrongs  in  his  day  which  Jesus  felt  must  be  made  right?     Matt- 
ii :  20-24  (Section  2),  Matt.  20:  1-28   (Section  4),  Luke  3:  10- 
14  (Section  i). 

5.  At  the  beginning  of  his  life  work  to  what  task  did  Jesus 
commit  himself  ?     (See  Section  5.)     What  did  he  say  he  had  come 
to  do?    Luke  4:  16-22  (Section  6).     Did  Jesus  share  the  Jewish 
idea  that  the  Kingdom  of  God  would  represent  ideal  conditions? 

6.  What  are  some  of  the  most  necessary  changes  in  the  life 
of  today  if  it  is  to  be  Christian?    If  you  could  purchase  one  ad- 
vance by  your  life  this  year,  what  would  you  choose  as  the  most 
important?    Why? 

7.  Do  you  or  do  you  not  believe  that  the  Christian  religion 


144  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

would  be  as  effective  in  transforming  business,  politics,  inter- 
national relations,  and  other  aspects  of  life  as  it  has  proved 
in  changing  the  life  and  character  of  individuals?  What  basis 
have  you  for  your  conclusion?  How  would  you  go  at  it  to 
"convert"  an  industrial  plant  or  a  political  party? 

8.  In    making    the    world    Christian,    what    relative    emphasis 
would  you  place  on  winning  individuals  and  on  changing  condi- 
tions which  are  wrong?     In  what  ways  is  the  value  of  the  one 
dependent  upon  the  other? 

9.  At  the  present  rate  of  progress,  how  long  will  it  take  to 
Christianize    the    homes,    schools,    politics,    business,    and    other 
parts  of  your  town  and  the  world?     Is  the  task  hopeless  or  is 
there  some  chance  of  making  faster  progress?    Why  do  you  hold 


CHAPTER  XXIX 

How  Jesus  Met  Life  Questions 

A  Review  of  How  Jesus  Faced  the  Issues  of  Life 

In  this  chapter  Bible  references  and  questions  for  group  dis- 
cussion are  omitted.  It  is  hoped  that  each  individual  and  group 
will  frankly  review  how  Jesus  met  life  questions. 

1.  What    was    Jesus'    attitude    toward    conditions    as    he 
found  them  in  his  day? 

a.  What  wrongs  did  Jesus  attack  and  seek  to  make  right? 

b.  What    conditions    which    reformers    today   are    seeking   to 
eradicate  did  he  ignore? 

c.  Cite  incidents  in  which  Jesus  forced  the  issue  and  set  out 
aggressively  to  attain  certain  results.     Why?     Do  you  feel  that 
at  any  time  he  was  unduly  drastic  or  radical? 

d.  Why  was  Jesus   considered   a  dangerous   reformer  by  the 
religious  leaders  and  the  best  people  of  his  day?    Was  he  a  dan- 
gerous reformer?     Why  do  you  think  so? 

e.  Some  people  say  an  idealist  must  be  practical  and  keep  his 
feet   on  the   ground,   living  his   life   as   near   his   ideal   as   con- 
ditions will  permit.     Others  say  that  he  must  be  true  to  his  ulti- 
mate ideal  at  any  cost,  and  attempt  to  adjust  himself  to  con- 
ditions as  they  are  means  to  compromise.    Which  do  you  think 
Jesus  did?     What  evidence  have  you? 

2.  What    method    did    Jesus    use    in    helping    folks    who 
brought  him  questions  and  problems? 

a.  Did  Jesus  seemingly  have  a  stock  of  prepared  answers,  or 
did  he  meet  each  situation  as  it  arose? 

b.  How  many  direct  answers  to  questions  do  you  find?     Did 
he  give  those  who  brought  questions  to  him  a  direct  answer  which 
showed  them  exactly  what  to  do,  or  did  he  give  them  principles 
and  throw  back  upon  them  the  working  out  of  these  ideals  in 
their  lives? 

c.  Which  helps  a  person  the  more,  to  tell  him  what  to  do  or 
to  help  him  see  the  issues  and  the  ideals  on  which  action  might 
be  based  and  allow  him  to  solve  the  problem  for  himself? 

145 


146  HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS 

3.  What  was  the  occasion  of  Jesus'  teachings? 

a.  What  evidence  is  there  that  Jesus  staged  events  in  order  to 
teach  truth ;  what  evidence  that  his  teachings  grew  out  of  occa- 
sions as  they  arose? 

b.  How  does  teaching  which  grows  cut  of  the  meeting  of  ac- 
tual life  situations  compare  in  effectiveness  with  formal  teach- 
ing given   apart   from  the  actual  problems  on  which  it  bears? 

4.  What   was   the    comparative   interest   of   Jesus   in   the 
individual  and  in  social  conditions? 

a.  How  many  times  do  you  find  in  the  gospels  a  record  of  Jesus 
dealing    with    matters    which    are    purely    personal ;    how    many 
times  do  you  find  a  record  of  his  facing  questions  which  involve 
social  or  group  problems? 

b.  Some   people   say  that  Jehus'   chief   interest   was   with   the 
individual   and   that   he   did   not   intend   his   teachings   to   apply 
to  social  conditions.    What  does  the  evidence  show? 

c.  How   far  do  you   feel  personal   and   social  problems   are 
inseparable? 

5.  How  did  Jesus  meet  the  major  issues  of  his  life? 

a.  What  were  the  major  issues  and  crises  of  Jesus'  life? 

b.  How  did  Jesus  meet  these  issues? 

c.  What  would   you   say  were  the  great  ideals   or   principles 
according  to  which  Jesus  trued  his  life  and  according  to  which 
he  made  his  decisions? 

d.  To   what   extent   do   you   find   Christians   today  coming  to 
the  life   of  Jesus   to  get  backing   for   what   they  have   already 
decided  to   do ;   to   what  extent   do  you   find  them   looking   for 
help  in  Jesus'  life  on  their  problems  and  seeking  to  make  their 
decisions  according  to  Jesus'  ideals?     What  should   Christians 
do?    Why? 

6.  Of  what  practical  help   on  present-day  problems   are 
Jesus'  life  and  teachings? 

a.  On  what  present-day  questions  have  you  found  from  these 
studies   that  Jesus'   life   and   teachings   give   help?     How?     On 
what  problems  do  you  feel  there  is  little,  if  any,  help?    Why? 

b.  Which    of   Jesus'    ideals    would    require    the    most    radical 
changes  in  present  social,  business,  and  political  life  if  they  were 
really  carried  out? 

7.  How  would  you  summarize   the   big  impressions   you 
have  gained  from  your  study  of  Jesus'  life? 

a.  If    some    person    were    to    ask    just    for    what    did    Jesus 
really  stand;  what  were  the  outstanding  events  of  his  life;  what 


HOW  JESUS  MET  LIFE  QUESTIONS  147 

were  the  points  of  emphasis  in  his  teachings — what  would  you 
reply? 

b.  What  made  people  so  attractive  to  Jesus?     How   did  his 
attitude  toward  the  lowly,  the  afflicted,  and  the  outcaste  differ 
from  that  of  the  people  of  his  day?     What  was  the  effect  of 
Jesus  upon  those  with  whom  he  came  in  contact?     Why? 

c.  What  were  the  sources  of  Jesus'  power?     What  evidences 
are  there  of  his  dependence  on  his  Father?     How  did  he  draw 
upon  his  Father  for  help  and  strength?    How  has  Jesus  helped  to 
make  God  real  for  men  and  women  today? 


INDEX  OF  SCRIPTURE  PASSAGES 


MATTHEW 


CHAPTER        MARK 


CHAPTER 


3:1,2 

I 

:  1-16, 

30,  31              ix 

4:  I-II 

II 

:  45-47 

XII 

5:  1-32 

V 

7:  1-23 

IX 

:  21-24,  27,  28 

XXIII 

:8-i3 

XXIII 

:  33-4B 

VI 

:  24-29 

XIII 

6:  1-8,  16-24 

VII 

:  24-37 

X 

:  19-24 

XXVI 

8:  1-21 

X 

•  31-33 

XXIV 

:  27-38 

XI 

7:  1-29 

VII 

:  34-38 

XXII,  XXIV 

10  :  5-7 

X 

9:  1-50 

XI 

1  1  :  20-24 

XXVIII 

:  33-50 

XVIII 

13:  1-9,  19-46 

VIII 

10:  2-12 

XXIII 

20:  1-16 

XVII 

:  13-16 

XXV 

20:20-28        XXIV, 

XXVIII 

:  13-22, 

,  28-31              XXII 

23:  i-33            XIX, 

XXVIII 

:  17-21 

XXIV 

:  37-39 

XXVIII 

:  32-45 

XVIII 

25'-3  1-46 

XVII 

II  :  i-io, 

15-18,  27-33    xix 

27:  62-66 

XXI 

12:1-37 

XIX 

28:  11-20 

XXI 

14:  1-52 

XX 

:  16-20 

XXVII 

15:  16-47 

XX 

16:  1-8 

XXI 

MARK 

CHAPTER 

i:  9-11 

I 

LUKE 

CHAPTER 

:  14-20 

XXIV 

i  :  46-55 

I,  XXV 

:  16-20           XXII 

,  XXVII 

2:27-32 

I 

:  16-45 

III 

:  41-52 

I 

121-34 

XVI 

3:  1-20 

I 

•  35-39 

XII 

:  10-14 

XXVIII 

2:  1-28 

IV 

4:  16-21 

II,  III,  XXVIII 

:  13-17 

XXVII 

:  16-30 

XIII 

:  23-28 

XVI 

:  24-27 

X 

3:1-6 

XVI 

6:  12,  13 

XII 

:  1-12 

IV 

:  20-26 

XXV 

:  31-35 

XXII 

7:  1-50 

VII 

4:  26-29 

VIII 

:  36-39, 

48-50           XXIII 

:  35-41 

IX 

9:  18,  28,  29                       XII 

5:21-43 

IX 

:  51-55 

XX 

6:  1-6 

XXVII 

:  57-62 

XXII,  XXIV 

148 

INDEX  OF  SCRIPTURE  PASSAGES 


149 


LUKE 


II: 

12: 


CHAPTER 

LUKE 

CHAPTER 

i,  7,  18 

XXVII 

17-11 

XVIII 

1-24 

XII 

:  25-35 

XXII 

25-37 

X,  XIII 

IS:  J-8 

XXV 

38-41 

XXIII 

:i-32 

XVII 

1-13 

XII 

:  11-32 

XXII 

29-32          XIII, 

XXVIII 

16:  19-21 

XXV 

I-I2,  22-59 

XIV 

119-31 

XVII 

13-21 

XXVI 

17:  1-6,  11-19 

XVII 

13-34 

XV 

18:  1-14 

XII 

22,  29-32 

XXVI 

:  18-30 

XV,  XXVI 

IO-I7 

XVI 

19:  i-io 

XXII,  XXVI 

22-30 

XIII 

22:54-71 

XX 

31-33 

XIV 

23:  1-25 

XX 

1-6 

XVI 

24:  13-53 

XXI 

TA  03598 


M279068 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


